The bank heist suspect who was shot in Pieta late on Tuesday night is still in critical condition but has spoken to the police about the attempt on his life.

Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu, 52, was hit by three bullets as he sat in his car outside his house in Bordin Street, Pieta, at about 11.30pm on Tuesday.

Two bullets entered his head and another hit his hand. The bullets were extracted during an intensive operation at Mater Dei Hospital and have been sent for forensic testing.

Despite being in intensive care, Mr Muscat has managed to speak to the police. According to investigative sources, he said a car drove up to him and fired shots. Police believe six shots were fired from a small calibre weapon.

Severely wounded, Mr Muscat managed to drive to the Msida police station a few hundred metres away and burst in asking for help, shocking the police officers on duty. Police have taken footage from closed circuit cameras in the area, which is close to the Junior College, and are examining it for clues.

He was arraigned with Darren Debono in connection with a failed hold-up on the HSBC main office in Qormi

The victim is well known to the police. In 2010, he was arraigned with Darren Debono in connection with a failed hold-up on the HSBC main office in Qormi.

He was also charged with the attempted murder of two police officers who were engaged in a shootout at the scene, stealing a pistol, holding another three officers against their will and attempting to rob the bank.

The attempt on Mr Muscat’s life is similar to the murder of Joseph Galea, il-Ġilda, who was shot dead in his car outside his Marsa home. The killers sprayed Mr Galea’s car with bullets from an automatic weapon at around 5am on February 5, just before he was about to drive off. Police are investigating a link between the killing of Mr Galea, that of Peter Cassar, known as Pietru l-Ħaqqa, who was shot a week later in Żejtun, and a series of other murders over a span of two years.