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Philip Cini, the Qormi man injured in a parcel bomb explosion yesterday afternoon, is now stable but his condition remains serious, hospital sources said today. The police still have to speak to him.

Mr Cini suffered severe injuries to both his hands and his torso in an explosion as he opened a package left at his doorstep in St Edward Street. He was fortunately given quick medical attention as an ambulance happened to be driving along the street soon after the blast.

His wife and seven-year-old grandson, who were also in the house, were not injured.

The police are meanwhile still trying to establish the motive for the attack. His relatives were questioned for several hours yesterday.

Informed sources said it was almost certain that the package was not delivered by a postal service but had been placed there by someone. The package had 'To Philip from Doris' written on it. Mr Cini's wife is also called Doris.

AFM explosives experts are examining the remains of the package to establish the nature of the bomb, however informed sources said the explosive is thought not to have been of the type used in fireworks and quarries.

The attack was the most serious since a letter bomb killed Karin Grech, 15, in 1977.

Two weeks ago the police were called to investigate a suspected parcel bomb in Qormi but it turned out to be a hoax.