The explosive device which yesterday rattled the residence of a businessman in Xagħra, Gozo, could have been linked to a beach concession in Comino which he was awarded last summer, this newspaper has learnt.

Sandro Ciliberti, 45, together with his partner, emerged unscathed following a violent explosion outside their residence in Ġnien Xibla Street in the early hours of yesterday. The police said that the blast happened at about 3.50am and caused extensive damage to Mr Ciliberti’s Mercedes, while leaving a gaping hole in a wooden garage door.

The consequences, however, could have been tragic, as the garage contained four large gas cylinders used to run Mr Ciliberti’s kiosk in Comino. They were dented by the blast.

“Whoever was behind the attack seemed well aware of their presence, as the device was placed close to them on the bottom left-hand side on the exterior of the door,” sources close to the investigation told the Times of Malta.

Members of the Bomb Disposal Unit examining the damage caused to Mr Ciliberti’s Mercedes.

They added that the explosive material in the device bore huge similarities to that used in the pyrotechnic industry. As for the motive behind the attack, investigators are focusing on a beach concession awarded last year by the Malta Tourism Authority for the hiring of umbrellas and deckchairs at Santa Marija Bay in Comino.

The contract was won by Mr Ciliberti following a bidding process amid harsh competition which saw 16 submissions. Weeks after starting operations, the businessman claimed that part of his property in Comino had been damaged in an arson attack.

In a Facebook post uploaded on August 21, he expressed his desire that whoever was responsible would one day experience the consequences of his actions. He accused the perpetrators of causing a lot of hardship and challenged them to have another go, this time in his presence.

The explosive material bore huge similiarities to that used in pyrotechnics

Residents said that the businessman had been living in Xagħra for a couple of years, after relocating from Malta. “The blast was so loud that it seemed like a gas cylinder has exploded in our own kitchen,” a woman remarked.

While a number of glass panes in nearby residences broke, several projectiles were found up to 30m away from the blast, including a large scrap of metal that left a deep mark on the pavement. The explosion was audible from the nearby village of Nadur.

Investigators will closely examine footage from two security cameras outside the residence. “Though this could unearth crucial evidence, the footage could be of limited use if the culprit concealed his identity using a balaclava,” police sources said.

Apart from the beach concession, Mr Ciliberti owns a company called Hangman Limited, which, as the name suggests, specialises in the importation of pegs and various kinds of clotheslines. A company van parked in front of the Mercedes was slightly damaged.