Updated - Details from police press conference - The police have appealed for information connected with this morning's fatal shooting of 51-year-old lawyer Carmel Chircop, in Birkirkara.

Assistant Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta said this afternoon that the police were examining CCTV footage but were appealing for information about a car, possibly pale coloured, seen leaving the scene of the crime. 

The shooting took place at about 7.30am in a garage complex in John Borg Street, close to the primary school.

Dr Chircop was shot twice in the upper body. He had injuries in his chest and back.

Several other shots were fired. No spent cartidges were found. An autopsy will be held tomorrow.

Dr Chircop died on the spot. 

The motive behind the murder is not known, the police said, adding that they were looking at various angles and questioning people to establish the circumstances of the case. So far, nobody is being held on suspicion.

However Mr Valletta said Dr Chircop had, some months ago, reported to the police that he had been threatened.

Asked whether this case could be related to alleged diesel smuggling amid reports that Dr Chircop was questioned by the police in the past, Assistant Commissioner Valletta said it would be presumptions for the police to say yes or no at this point. 

The alarm was raised by a neighbour shortly after the shooter escaped. It is understood that the police have requested footage from CCTV cameras in the area.

Among those on the scene was the victim's sister, a nurse, who fainted after seeing what had taken place.

Dr Chircop, who lives a short distance away, is a partner at Dingli and Dingli and president of the Duke of Connaught band club. 

A PILLAR OF THE CLUB

"He was a pillar of the club, he is a huge loss," a tearful member of the club told Times of Malta near the scene of the shooting.

"I last spoke to him at the club on Sunday, I cannot understand how anyone would do this sort of thing to this sort of man."