Man to be arraigned over find of fireworks material

A 46-year-old fish seller from Msida is shortly expected to be charged in court after a quantity of pyrotechnic material was found in a residential area in the lower part of Valley Road in Birkirkara.

Following a report, police from the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit went on site to investigate and found three drums full of chemicals used in making fireworks as well as about a dozen large trays with gunpowder.

Sources said it was evident that the premises had been used for making fireworks for quite some time and it was surprising that no one had reported the matter before.

Fireworks are allowed to be manufactured under licence and are supposed to be made in licensed fireworks factories. The man held by the police does not have a licence to make fireworks, the sources said.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera appointed Col. Albert Camilleri as an expert to assist in the inquiry.

The materials seized were destroyed at the AFM ranges in Pembroke on Wednesday evening.

Police investigations are being carried out by Inspector Alexander Miruzzi.