Activists, politicians and mourners gathered at Bidnija on Tuesday afternoon to mark the first anniversary of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination.

The crowd fell silent as the church bells struck three, the time that Ms Caruana Galizia was murdered in a car bomb one year ago.

Activists from Occupy Justice and Kenniesa were present, alongside Nationalist Party MPs Simon Busuttil, Jason Azzopardi, Kristy Debono and David Agius. MEPs Roberta Metsola, David Casa and Ana Gomes were also in attendance, as was former minister and EU Commissioner Tonio Borg. 

Some were visibly moved as the crowd stood silent at the Bidnija site, recalling the blast that ensured Ms Caruana Galizia fell silent a year ago. Some tied purple ribbons to a fig tree at the site, purple being the journalist's favourite colour. 

Actor Manuel Cauchi read out Ecclasiastes 3 after the three minutes of silence - the same Bible passage that was read out during Ms Caruana Galizia’s funeral.

A mass will be held for Ms Caruana Galizia at the Conventual Church of St Francis in Valletta at 6pm, with a march and vigil scheduled for 7pm in front of the Great Siege Memorial on Republic Street. 

WATCH: Government workers paint over Daphne graffiti

READ: 'Anyone else responsible for this murder will be caught,' government vows

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