The assault rifle suspected to have been used in Friday’s murder had a special magazine that carries almost twice as many rounds as the standard version, raising suspicions it could have come from conflict-ridden Libya.

The Kalashnikov AK-47 was found in a burnt Opel Corsa that had been abandoned in a field at Tal-Virtù, in Rabat, a 10-minute drive from the farmhouse in Buskett Road, San Blas where Raymond Caruana, 54, was gunned down.

The drum magazine can carry up to 50 rounds instead of the standard 30 bullets. Dozens of bullets were sprayed at the car, five or six hitting Mr Caruana in his chest, face, hands and legs.

The bullet shells found at the murder scene corresponded to those used by an AK-47. However, forensic tests have to be done to establish this with certainty. 

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