Alleged Mqabba shooter again denied bail

A man charged with firing shots at the Mqabba Nationalist Party Club in December has been denied bail for the second time due to the seriousness of the charges against him.

Carmel Saliba, 31, has been held in preventative arrest since his arraignment last December, when he pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of 20 people and breaching the conditions of a previous release.

The police this morning said that were it not for their intervention, this incident could have been far worse.

According to club president Michel Farrugia, Mr Saliba had walked up to him shortly before the incident and told him that someone had punched him and he wanted to know who. A scuffle broke out between the two and they were separated by friends.

He said that just before the accused left the club he told them he would return.

Mr Saliba then rushed back to the club some time later brandishing a gun and was stopped by two policemen who arrived a few minutes before to investigate the case. Mr Saliba allegedly managed to push past them and fired shots at the door seriously injuring two.

The case continues.