Outspoken Panama Papers journalist killed in car bomb

Daphne Caruana Galizia was known as an outspoken and upright Maltese journalist who did not shy away from speaking her mind against a corrupt regime. However, it seems that this is what cost her, her life as she was killed in a car bomb on Monday.

Galizia also ran a blog in which she made repeated detailed corruption allegations against Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s inner circle. The journalist, 53, was killed mid-afternoon on Monday, close to her home in Bidnija in the north of the island.

According to eye witnesses’ reports, the force of the blast reduced her car to pieces and catapulted her body into a field nearby. The bomb was fitted into her car and it was detonated as she was driving to her home. Galizia leaves behind a husband and three sons.

Muscat condemned the killing as a ‘barbaric’ act and ordered security services to devote maximum resources in order to find the culprits to justice. “What happened today is unacceptable on various levels. Today is a black day for our democracy and our freedom of speech,” he told reporters.

Thousands of people poured in to the city streets to mourn the death of the brave journalist. Men and women were seen holding candles, placards and flowers for a candlelight vigil held on the island’s northeast resort town Sliema, to pay tribute to Galizia.

“When the people fear their government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is LIBERTY,” read one sign left on the pavement with flowers and candles.

It was reported that just a month prior to her killing, the journalist had filed a police complaint about threats that she had received.

“I will not rest until justice is done,” said Prime Minister Muscat. “Everyone knows Ms Caruana Galizia was a harsh critic of mine, both politically and personally, but nobody can justify this barbaric act in any way,” he added.

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Posted by fatimaarshad on Oct 17 2017. Filed under Latest News, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.