After September 11, 2001, international terrorism became a household story, fighting its way into people’s homes the world over as a staple alongside mundane news about the local government, traffic and the economy.

But the globalisation of terrorism started well before 9/11 and, in contrast to when America was attacked on that fated day, Malta was not always just a distant spectator, even though the islands have so far been spared major catastrophes.

A new book, Terror’s Footprints: Shadows of International Terrorism over Malta, written by Joe Mifsud and edited by Martin Bugelli, traces some of these incidents with a Malta connection.

They range from assassinations on Maltese soil and attacks on diplomatic properties to hijackings and the delivery of explosive devices via Air Malta, probably sent by one country to attack another.

All these incidents and more are described in great detail and supported by documentary evidence and more than 100 photographs.

One of the most salient sections deals with the Lockerbie incident, with the book raising doubts about whether the whole truth on that attack has in fact ever surfaced.

The book, published by Kite Group, is being launched this evening at 6.30pm at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, where the Annual Book Fair is being held this week.