Forensic experts yesterday returned to the Marsascala garage that belonged to a relative of the Żejtun man gunned down last week.

The search in the garage in Triq ir-Roża is the second in as many weeks by the police.

The large garage, situated in a quiet residential neighbourhood, was combed for evidence by forensic experts a day after Peter Cassar, known as il-Ħaqqa, was killed in Żejtun.

The first search also included the army’s bomb disposal unit and police dogs but yesterday’s was less intense.

Mr Cassar’s murder in broad daylight is possibly linked to that of Joseph Cutajar, known as il-Lion, in December 2012, and that of Paul Degabriele, known as is-Suldat, in May last year.

Mr Cutajar was killed with an AK47 machine gun while driving his car in Mosta while Mr Degabriele was murdered in a busy road after exiting a Marsa bar.

Mr Degabriele had been questioned by the police over Mr Cutajar’s murder while Mr Cassar had been questioned when a homemade bomb was found underneath Mr Degabriele’s car in Fgura in October 2012.

Soon after the failed bomb attack in Fgura, the police acted on a tip-off and raided Mr Cassar’s garage in Żejtun where they found explosive material, a machine gun and a bomb believed to be a World War II relic.

The murder of Joe Galea, known as il-Ġilda, which happened at the start of this month, may also be linked in what police believe is a spate of revenge killings by rival criminal gangs.

Mr Galea was gunned down in the early morning while sitting in his car in front of his Marsa house.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

Tonight’s edition of Times Talk on TVM at 6.55pm will discuss organised crime.