Updated at 8.30pm with Prime Minister's comments in Brussels, Opposition leader's comments in Parliament

Journalists were today left perplexed after the police called a press conference about the Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination, only to insist they could not divulge any information.

Ms Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb on Monday.

Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar was bombarded with a litany of questions about the investigations, only to say he was legally unable to answer any questions which could compromise the magisterial inquiry.

Asked to respond to criticism about his abilities as a Police Commissioner, Mr Cutajar said he was sorry to hear about such criticism.

He said all the police’s resources were channeled into the investigation, and vowed to do his best to solve the crime.

The Police Commissioner defended his record, saying he had always given his best under every government.

“I received promotions and awards under various administrations,” he said.

Asked by the Times of Malta if the FBI were scheduled to visit Malta on a training exercise prior to the murder, deputy Commissioner Silvio Valletta confirmed this was the case.

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

He said that, however, the four investigators providing technical assistance in the murder probe were different from the ones who had already been scheduled to visit.

Mr Cutajar said an autopsy on Ms Caruana Galizia’s body would be carried out tomorrow.

Asked what was the point of calling a press conference if no questions about the investigations were going to be answered, Mr Cutajar said he wanted to assure the people that the police were doing their best to solve the case.

Questioned if the various subjects of Ms Caruana Galizia’s writings, including the Prime Minister and Opposition leader would be questioned, Mr Valletta said all the necessary people would be spoken to.

The Police Commissioner made it clear that the Maltese police were leading the investigations.

Mr Cutajar said it would take weeks to collect all the necessary evidence.

He refused to confirm whether the military grade explosive Semtex had been used in the bombing.

The car driven by Ms Caruana Galizia had been towed away for further investigation, he said.

Mr Cutajar said Scotland Yard were not involved in the investigations.

Government agrees with international investigation - Prime Minister

Speaking in Brussels today, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reiterated his comments in Parliament yesterday he agreed with a call by EP President Antonio Tajani for an international investigation on Ms Caruana Galizia’s murder.

One had to see how this could be done, perhaps through Europol, he said.

Earlier today, Mr Tajani said there could be foreigners involved in the murder so more assistance could be needed in the investigation.

“We will not stop until the truth is out,” Dr Muscat said.

This crime, the Prime Minister said, was not just against Ms Caruana Galizia’s family but was also an attack on freedom on expression and Malta.

And to find who committed the crime, the government was also considering methods that could be considered controversial, such as offering a reward for information.

Conference created more doubts than comfort - Opposition leader

Speaking in Parliament later today, Opposition leader Adrian Delia said that in spite of all that had been said, the Police Commisioner did not resign and did not feel he should shoulder any responsibility.

The Commissioner he said, had given a different version of the reasons as to why the FBI had been called. Another two versions had been given by the Prime Minister earlier. Which version was the truth?

He said the Opposition would be scrutinising all the government would be doing in this process that was fundamental to the country’s judgement as the world was following what was happening in Malta.

Another question the Commissioner failed to answer was whether a secure border control had been put in place immediately following the assassination so that if any foreigners were involved they would not have had time to escape.

Rather than put people’s mind at rest, today’s crime conference created more doubts and fears that the best was not being done for justice to be carried out.