Alarming Amount Of Explosives Found In PL HQ Bomb Suspect’s Garage

Jun 1 2024

Police and bomb disposal officers are “alarmed” by the amount of explosive material found in a garage where a teenager allegedly manufactured a bomb placed outside Labour Party headquarters, according to Times of Malta.

The underground garage contained enough material to cause a “devastating” tragedy, especially as several families lived above it.

Residents were evacuated on Thursday night when police discovered the explosives. The suspect, a 19-year-old man, has not been questioned yet as he must undergo a psychiatric assessment ordered by the inquiring magistrate.

The teenager was arrested on Thursday night for allegedly placing a homemade bomb, found in a waste bin, outside the Labour Party’s headquarters the previous night.

Police suspect he made the bomb in a Santa Venera garage, where they found TATP, a volatile explosive known as “Mother of Satan,” often used in terrorist attacks due to its potency and ease of manufacture from household supplies.

A source noted that placing the bomb in a bin at night helped contain the explosion and minimize potential injuries. Tensions were high as police hunted the suspect, fearing public safety amid numerous mass events on the islands.

The suspect was reportedly caught on CCTV approaching the PL headquarters with a gym bag. Times of Malta reported that police and military personnel secured the garage area late Thursday night, ensuring the safety of residents.

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53 New Recruits Complete Training & Join Police Corps

Jun 1 2024

The Police Force has been strengthened by 53 new constables who completed a seven-month recruit training course conducted by the Academy for Disciplined Forces.

This course, which included academic, practical, and physical training, is accredited at MQF Level 4 by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority. These new constables will now begin serving the communities and the country.

The training covered various subjects, including ethics, diversity, Maltese laws, rules and procedures, and investigations of crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse on electronic sites, sexual offences, and mental health awareness. These 53 constables join the 102 other constables who have joined the Police Force in recent months.

At the passing out parade ceremony, Minister for Home Affairs, Security, and Employment Byron Camilleri highlighted the government’s investment not only in the tools used by the police but also in improving salaries, conditions, and rights. He encouraged the new officers to work closely with the community to enhance security and maintain public confidence in the Police Force.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà emphasized that while the Maltese Police Force is one of the oldest institutions of its kind, it is now updated with a focus on professionalism and efficiency.

Recent public opinion surveys, both local and European, show that the vast majority of Maltese and Gozitans have confidence in the Force and its officers, attributing these positive results to motivated officers who work closely with the community.

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38.8% Of Youth Think Other Youth Won’t Vote

Jun 1 2024

According to a new survey concerning ‘Young People’s Opinions On European Affairs’ by Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ (KNZ), 77.6% of Maltese youth responding (90) said they will be voting in the upcoming European Parliament and Local Council elections.

However, when asked about their opinion of how the majority of young people will cast their first preference vote, the second largest group (38.8%) said that youth won’t vote.

The majority in second category was a vote for the Labour Party at 43.1%, followed by a third category for the Nationalist Party at 10.3%.

Conducted by the National Youth Council of Malta in the lead-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections an online questionnaire collected both qualitative and quantitative data from 117 respondents, aged 16-35.

The survey found that for 68.4% of respondents, Malta’s EU Membership mattered more than Malta’s Neutrality. 53% even said that they trust the European Institutions more, with 9.4% saying they trust the Maltese state more. 25.6% said they trust neither.

Find the full study here.

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Italian Deputy PM Picks Metsola In Hypothetical Scenario

Jun 1 2024

During an interview, Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani rejected 4 candidates proposed to him for a hypothetical Erasmus trip and instead choose Maltese politician and EP President Roberta Metsola.

Tajani, who is also the secretary of Forza Italia as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Italy, was asked who he would pick if he had the chance to travel outside of Italy on an Erasmus trip.

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His options were Mario Draghi, Matteo Renzi, Elly Schlein or Ursula von Der Leyen. However, he doubled down on choosing Metsola.

Saying that he respects her a lot, he acknowledged how despite coming from a very small island her career took her to the centre of European politics.

‘She truly represents the spirit of Erasmus’, concluded Tajani.

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