Parcel bomb victim critical

Philip Cini, who was maimed when a parcel bomb addressed to him exploded as he opened it on Tuesday, is battling for his life at Mater Dei Hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit.

Police sources said Mr Cini's condition had stabilised on Wednesday and Thursday but took a turn for the worse on Christmas Day, and his condition was yesterday described as "very critical".

Mr Cini, 60, lost his left hand and had to undergo an operation because of serious injuries to the left side of his torso.

The police are still trying to establish the motive behind the crime.

The homemade bomb, placed in a hollowed out book, exploded when Mr Cini unwrapped the parcel addressed "To Philip from Doris" while standing in his kitchen. His wife, who had warned him not to open the parcel, and eight-year-old grandson escaped uninjured despite being close to him.

The blast damaged the aluminium balcony door and shattered the glass panes of the windows in the kitchen. Investigations have ex-cluded the possibility that the parcel was delivered by postal services. It was left behind the door of Mr Cini's first floor maisonette in St Edward Street, Qormi.

Police sources said the package was delivered on Tuesday morning and Mr Cini's wife found it behind the door and took it upstairs to the kitchen. When Mr Cini arrived at about 1.30 p.m., he unwrapped it and the bomb exploded as he tried to remove the wires.

Mr Cini works at his brother's food packaging company, C. Cini & Sons.

Last Tuesday's incident has triggered off panic in some areas, especially since it rekindled memories of the 1977 incident when Karin Grech was killed by a parcel bomb.

The Armed Forces' Explosives Ordnance Disposal was even called to St Albert Street, Gżira yesterday to inspect a parcel, which neighbours suspected could turn out to be a bomb. The Civil Protection Department was on standby and residents were told to stay indoors.

But after spraying the bag with water, the AFM discovered it was only a bag full of clothes.