Three Gozitans held as police seize more explosives

Police are holding three men from Gozo after an anonymous tip-off led them to the discovery of a considerable amount of petards stored on a truck in Xagħra yesterday morning. Sources told The Sunday Times that police received an anonymous call some time before noon yesterday about the possibility of illegal fireworks in Triq Tas-Surg, Xagħra.

Police went on site immediately and on a Ford truck parked in that street discovered a box laden with petards as well as several tools and other material used to manufacture fireworks.

The sources said the petards were stored in a box measuring around one square metre. Three men, all from Gozo, were arrested and are helping police with their inquiries. Duty Magistrate Anthony Ellul was informed of the case and appointed a number of court experts to assist with the inquiry.

Since the Naxxar fireworks explosion nearly two weeks ago that killed two people and demolished several homes, police have been receiving numerous phone calls from concerned residents reporting that explosive material is being stored illegally.

Police have been investigating all the calls they receive and a number of searches proved negative. However, tip-offs have led police to the discovery of an amount of explosive material. Over the past 10 days, four men have been charged with the illegal possession of fireworks material.