During the 1970s, at the height of IRA activities I was a police officer in the Metropolitan force (London). At that time the metropolis was suffering car bombs, letter bombs and also letterbox bombs. There were a number of fatalities and injuries.

Information was obtained that a "garage in London" contained an amount of explosives that could be used in detriment to the population.

Due to this information every garage in the Metpol area was searched. We worked in teams of two throughout the various "divisions" of London. A locksmith was available if we required assistance to gain entry to garages where people were away or "unknown". For other undesirables who had contraband hoarded in their garage(s) and would not grant us access, magistrates' warrants of search were very easily obtained.

I will not go into the results of these searches, but the point of my correspondence is that if people in Malta are aware of illegal ordnance being stored in their locale, why not inform the police or the AFM so they will take the relevant action to remove it?

To those people who may be hoarding or dealing in unlicensed explosives, it could be your wife, children or you who are killed if such a Naxxar tragedy occurs again.