The bomb that exploded while a father of four was driving along the Marsascala bypass – killing him on the spot – was planted inside the car, according to the police.

Assistant Commissioner Silvio Valletta told a crime conference yesterday that while the investigation was still in its early stages, the police were certain the blast came from within the red Alfa Romeo.

No information was available on whether the explosive device was being transported by Martin Cachia or whether he was the intended target.

It is believed that the car was being driven by the 56-year-old fisherman from Marsascala.

The victim, who had a pending court case linked to human trafficking and signed the bail book every day, was known to the police in relation to drug cases and cigarette smuggling.

The car was not registered in Mr Cachia’s name, but it was a car he drove regularly, police said. He would often use the bypass and enjoyed going for walks in the area. The blast occurred at a bend, a few metres from the traffic lights near Chef’s Choice Supermarket. The car then travelled some 80 metres before crashing into a wall.

The victim had not filed any reports of threats that could lead them to any suspects at this stage, Mr Valletta said.

Assistant Commissioner Silvio Valletta appealing for information during a press conference yesterday evening. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

The Assistant Commissioner appealed to the public for information.

Mr Valletta said it was still too early to establish what type of explosive device had been used.

The blast hurled Mr Cachia on to the back seat and left a gaping hole under the driver’s seat.

Car parts, some of which had come off the vehicle before it hit the wall, were strewn across the road.

Noel Dalli, a witness who was on the scene moments after the bomb went off, said he heard loud bangs coming from the main road and ran over to see what was happening.

“The place shook. As I approached the burning car, a couple were standing next to it and I thought it was theirs,” Mr Dalli said.

I’m still shaking. I can’t believe what we saw

“As soon as they told me it wasn’t, it occurred to me that the person who was driving the car must still be inside.”

Mr Dalli then rushed back to his field and along with a relative returned with a bowser to try and extinguish the fire. Mr Dalli said the police were on the scene within 20 minutes.

“Firing water at the car may not have been the ideal thing to do, but at that moment I wasn’t thinking straight,” Mr Dalli said.

The car, engulfed in flames, travelled some 80 metres before crashing into a wall. Photo: Omar Xuereb

“I’m still shaking. I can’t believe what we saw.”

While the car’s front end did not appear to sustain much damage, the rest of the vehicle was engulfed in flames and only its charred metal frame remained.

In March 2013, Mr Cachia had been charged along with four Egyptians with smuggling 20 men into Malta. At the time he was the owner of the vessel and appeared in court in connection with the case on Friday.

The four Egyptians had been sentenced and were released last November, according to sources.

One of the victim’s daughters, Faye Cachia, expressing her grief on Facebook, said she would have been in the car with her father when the bomb exploded had it not been for a last-minute change of plans.

On Friday, Mr Cachia called his daughter to say he would not be picking her up on Saturday morning, as planned, she said. “I will miss you every second of the day. I will make you proud of me, I promise you,” Ms Cachia wrote.

In June 2014, Darren Degabriele, a 35-year-old restaurateur, was killed when a bomb exploded inside his vehicle as he was driving towards Marsaxlokk.