A Europol explosives expert has detailed the devastating force of the bomb that killed journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017, telling a Maltese court that the device contained 300 to 400 grammes of TNT and killed her instantly. Mario Cmarec, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist, testified via video link that the charge was placed under the driver’s seat and ripped a 90-by-90-centimetre hole through the car’s floor. He said the explosion originated inside the vehicle, causing the metal panels to buckle outward. Cmarec added that fragments recovered allowed experts to reconstruct parts of the bomb, including a metal plate, container, initiator, and activation system. He also explained how GSM relay controllers, typically used for garage doors, can be adapted as remote detonators using SIM cards and SMS commands. However, he noted that extensive damage prevented linking the components to any known commercial device. The testimony came on the fourth day of the trial of Yorgen Fenech, who has pleaded not guilty to complicity in the murder.
Article source: independent.com.mt | Image credit: NBC News
