Yesterday's parcel bomb explosion which shattered the Christmas feeling for many Maltese, quickly brought back memories of the 1977 letter bomb which killed Karin Grech.

But several people also remembered another horrific case which also shattered Yuletide - the bomb explosion at Sliema police station on December 18, 1985.

Three policemen and a girl were injured when a bomb placed on a window sill at the police station exploded late that evening.

The injured were Constables Godfrey Cassar and Peter Barberi, who were seriously hurt , Sergeant Joseph Micallef and 12-year-old Claudia Pecorella.

Ms Pecorella, who was injured when the car she was travelling in was caught by the blast, said she remembered the bomb every December 18.

In a comment to timesofmalta.com following yesterday's bomb in Qormi, she said it was always sad to hear such news, especially so close to 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" she said to Philip Cini, the victim of yesterday's blast.

The Times had reported that neighbours who went to give assistance to the policemen described an ugly scene.

PC Barberi lost a hand and had facial injuries. PC Cassar had splinter wounds to his right thigh and a shoulder fracture. Sgt Micallef had a back injury.

The police station, at the top of Manwel Dimech Street, suffered structural damage. Windows across the road were also shattered.

President Agatha Barbara was among those who visited the victims in hospital.