The controversy surrounding the makeshift memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta took a new twist after photos of Raymond Caruana, Dom Mintoff and Karin Grech were placed alongside that of the slain journalist.
Karin Grech was killed in a letter bomb addressed to her father in 1977 at the height of the doctors' strike, Raymond Caruana, a Nationalist activist, was killed at the Gudja party club in 1986, while Dom Mintoff - a long-time prime minister and reviled by Ms Caruana Galizia - died in 2012.
It is not know who placed the photos of the three overnight - the four-month anniversary of the journalist's murder - but the stunt is expected to fuel further debate.
Many critics of the blogger felt the memorial at the foot of the Great Siege monument, located opposite the law courts, was not the right place. Their opposition has only fuelled the resolve of many others who said they will not stay silent until the murder masterminds are caught.
Karin. Daphne. Dom. Raymond. Getting inside the saboteur’s mind is complicated. 3 victims of political violence and one... one what exactly? If memorials are reminders then this sabotage is just an open window on the sick minds in our society. #lestweforget #DaphneCaruanaGalizia
— Jacques Rene Zammit (@jacqueszammit) February 16, 2018
Just last Tuesday, Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli ruled that a motion to remove the makeshift memorial to Ms Caruana Galizia was inadmissable, as the council had no jurisdiction over the Great Siege memorial.
Valletta 2018 foundation chairman Jason Micallef said he would oppose a permanent memorial to Ms Caruana Galizia on Great Siege Square with every means possible.
He said no one should be contemptuous of historic monuments such as that of the great siege, a masterpiece by Antonio Sciortino.
Read: Caruana Galizia's sister lashes out at Jason Micallef over memorial objection