In a pursuit to avoid a replica of this week’s fatal Naxxar explosion, over the past days, the police arraigned two men over two additional finds of unlicensed manufacture and storage of explosive material.
In a separate case, another man was held for questioning after more explosive material in a Naxxar field was located.
Wednesday, an illegal fireworks workshop based in a residential area in the outskirts of Naxxar blew up, claiming two lives. An appeal sent by the police on the same day invited the public to, by means of the emergency number 119, report any suspected illegal firework production or storage in their neighbourhood.
In an investigation launched by the police on Thursday, the Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit confiscated close to 1,000 fireworks from stores that allegedly belonged to Paul Camilleri, one of the victims of the Naxxar explosion.
Also on Thursday, a separate investigation led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man, also from Naxxar, in connection to a find of more explosive material hidden in a field.
On Friday the police arraigned Vincent Borg, a 52-year-old man accused of illegally storing fireworks, gunpowder and other explosive material. Borg was let out on bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €5,000. Borg was also ordered to stay away from places where fireworks are produced as well as from two specific Naxxar band clubs – namely the Peace Band Club and the Victoria Band Club.
Yesterday, Gudja man Francis Dalli, 46, was also arraigned under the same charges as Borg. He was released on probation, under a personal guarantee of €2,000.