A powerful blast damaged a police inspector's home in Zurrieq early this morning, in an incident which caused no injuries.
The explosion, at 4.30a.m., appeared to have been triggered off by a bomb placed outside the garage adjoining Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi's house in Blue Grotto Avenue, Zurrieq. It blew off the garage door and caused structural damage to the residence and neighbouring houses. Cars parked nearby were also damaged.
The blast was heard over a wide area. The inspector, his wife and three young children were inside the house but managed to get out safely. It was the inspector himself who called the police.
People on the scene said the bomb blast sounded like a powerful fireworks explosion. Some thought a fireworks factory had blown up.
Senior police officers, including Acting Commissioner Ray Zammit, were on the scene, along with a forensics team and army bomb experts seeking out fragments of the explosive device. A police dog searched a field opposite the house.
It is understood that the police are examining CCTV footage of the area.
Acting Commissioner Zammit condemned this 'personal attack' and asked for anyone having information to come forward, in confidence.
Inspector Azzopardi used to work in the CID Department and is now the officer in charge of sourcing EU funding for the police force. He is also a law student at University.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat spoke to Insp Azzopardi on the phone and government workers were deployed to start repairs on the residence.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil visited the inspector and deplored the attack.
Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, who is abroad, was immediately notified and phoned the inspector.
In a tweet he condemned the blast and expressed solidarity. "I condemn this act of violence against Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi, violence against public officers in not acceptable and must be heavily punished," he said.
The shadow minister for home affairs, Jason Azzopardi, in a Facebook post condemned the incident and hoped that whoever was responsible was caught and faced justice.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil speaking to Inspector Azzopardi with Nationalist MPs Toni Bezzina (in shirt back to camera) and Jason Azzopardi.
Soldiers search a field opposite the house where a bomb exploded this morning.
Speaking in Parliament in the evening, Dr Busuttil condemned the act which he said should never be acceptable in a civilised nad democratic country.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also condemned the incident and hoped the police would close their investigations as soon as possible.