Update 3: Explosion at Qormi - parcel bomb suspected
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina.
Adds video, details.
A man suffered severe injuries this afternoon when a parcel exploded as he was opening it at his residence in Qormi.
The incident happened at about 1.30 p.m. in St Edward Street, close to the health centre.
Informed sources said the parcel appeared to have been placed at the doorstep of the house. The explosion took place in the first floor apartment, blowing out the door of a balcony.
Philip Cini, 60, had severe injuries to his left hand and also suffered injuries to his right hand and torso. He was immediately assisted by his wife and a grandson, who were in the house at the time, and a grocer and a worker who were across the road.
Mr Cini was rushed to hospital in an ambulance which arrived within a short time. The police said he is in danger of dying.
AFM bomb disposal experts, rescuers from the Civil Protection Department and Police Commissioner John Rizzo were also on the scene.
Neighbours were stunned by what had happened. A man said he could never imagine something of this sort happening to Mr Cini, who he described as a jovial character.
The incident will recall the 1977 blast - also during the Christmas period - which killed Karin Grech, 15. The explosion took place at the height of the doctors' strike. Young Karin was the daughter of Prof Edwin Grech, who worked at St Luke's Hospital at the time.
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simon cutajar
Dec 24th 2009, 14:25
Nawgura lis- sur cini fejqan ta malajr . ...............U jekk jinqabad minn ghamel dan l-attak please nisugerixi li nitfawh go pjazza helsien il- belt b-ittra bomba f ' idu biex kulhadd ikun jaf min hu , w mhux jehel xi 300 euros multa . JUSTICE PLEASE WAKE UP !
Ernest Vella
Dec 23rd 2009, 18:05
Dan huwa insult lejn il-poplu Malti u mhux ghajr attakk terroristiku disgustanti f'dawn iz-zmien ta festi. Dawn "in-nies" huma tant iddizzgrazzjati li ma jahmlux jaraw lill-haddiehor jiccellebraw Milied fil-paci u fis-sliem.
Dan iffakkarna mhux biss dak li gara lill-Kareen Grech imma wkoll li gara lill-Raymond Caruana - zewg zghazagh li fil-fjur ta' hajjithom bezziegh qatilhom bla skrupli ta' xejn. Hemm bzonn isir xi haga biex darba ghal dejjem certu nies ma jithallewx jigru mas-saqajn ghax ma jixirqilhomx.
Kien x'kien il-mottiv mhux importanti - ghax dik il-bomba (jekk kienet) setghet wegghet xebha nies, u possibilment tfal innocenti. Tal-Misthija. Nawgura fejqan ta malajr lis-Sur Cini...milli smajt huwa ragel mill-ahjar - il-Milied it-Tajjeb
Claudia Pecorella
Dec 23rd 2009, 10:23
Bombs....how sad...what cowards. This week - 18th December also a Friday - I celebrated 24 years of Sliema Police Station bomb that exploded injuring 3 police men, a passer by and myself (I was travelling in my fathers car with my younger brother). It is always sad to hear these news expecially when we are just a couple of days away from Christmas....this is the Christmas spirit some one wishes on others... may God be with you and your family in this sad moment of your life Mr. Cini.
Roderick Micallef
Dec 23rd 2009, 07:59
This case shows how brutal,sellfish, greedy and savage some humans can be. At times I am ashamed that I am also human and come from the same species as these criminals, I don't know what could have lead to such a cowardly attack but it is ruthless to say the least.
Needless to say that even though I don't know Mr.Cini I wish him a full recovery, but of course he and his family won't forget what has happened even if he had to recover fully.
As to the authorities, I plea that they do whatever they can to solve this case ideally before the festive season so that the perpetrators will be behind bars as quickly as possible.
I am against capital punishment and am in favour of human rights however certain 'humans' shouldn't be allowed all the human rights especially in a case where they where not humans themselves in the first place.
Therefore in some cases I think that capital punishment does make sense and should be implemented, it seems that even life in prison is not enough these days to deter certain crimes and possibly not even capital punishment if it comes to that.
Brian Chircop
Dec 23rd 2009, 00:55
@ K. Zahra - keep on disagreeing with the eye for an eye treatment cos ...
An eye for an eye treatment makes us blind - M Ghandi
Mr P Cini you are in our prayers. May God help you and your family ... and the person that did this cowardly act to ask for forgiveness
Marilyn Baldacchino Gatt
Dec 22nd 2009, 19:59
Living my childhood and teenage years and visiting my parents daily in St. Edward Street Qormi I condemn this brutal attack on Philip... Neighbours and people who know Philip were shocked today about this news only three days before Christmas. Hope Philip will recover his injuries very soon and will reunite with his family. You will all be in our thoughts and prayers. The GATT family.
K. Zahra
Dec 22nd 2009, 19:40
In general I disagree with an eye for an eye philosophy, but in this case I just hope that one day the murderers get the same treatment!
Galea. L
Dec 22nd 2009, 17:39
J Farrugia
While condemning without any reservation this attempt, hoping that the perpetrators are caught, that the victim recovers, have you any proof that it was Maltese persons who did this? You have put everyone n the same basket with your comment.
Charles Micallef
Dec 22nd 2009, 15:37
There are obviously some deranged people who hold grudges....
Let us hope and pray that the victim recovers in this season of goodwill to all mankind..!
N. Azzopardi
Dec 22nd 2009, 15:12
Truly disgusting.
M. Galea
Dec 22nd 2009, 15:05
All those in their right mind condemn such acts of cowardice.
Hopefully the perpetrators will be caught and due justice given.
Hopefully Mr. Cini wil not succumb to these injuries. He and his families will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Emmanuel Mazzitelli
Dec 22nd 2009, 14:45
I sincerely hope that the perpetrators be identified and brought to justice soonest. No Maltese would like to undergo that deadful trauma experienced 32 years ago. It has left a deep scar and divide.
Emmanuel Mazzitelli
Dec 22nd 2009, 14:44
I sincerely hope that the perpetrators be identified and brought to justice soonest. No Maltese would like to undergo that deadful trauma experienced 32 years ago. It has left a deep scar and divide.
J Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2009, 14:33
SHAME SHAME AND SHAME ON ALL THOSE WHO COMMITTED THIS TERRIBLE CRIME. IN THE SEASON OF GOOD WISHES AND CHRISTIAN SPIRIT AND SOLIDARITY, THIS IS WHAT THE MALTESE PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING TO THEIR 'NEIGHBOURS'. lOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. AND THEY PLACE A PARCEL BOMB INSTEAD. VANDALS, MURDERERS, HATE-FILLED BARBARIANS. WHAT MORE CAN I SAY? mY ONLY hope is that the perpetrator is found and sent to prison for his remaining lifetime.