Foreign investigators will “only assist” the Maltese police, as it will be local law enforcement that will lead the inquiry into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Investigative services from a number of countries, including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, have flown to the island to offer expertise to the investigation into the violent car bombing on Monday afternoon.

Sources involved in running the investigation yesterday told the Times of Malta, however, that it would be the Maltese police managing and leading the inquiry.

If we lack the ability to conduct certain tests, such as data scanning, we will use their expertise

“These foreign investigative entities are here to fill gaps in the investigation. If we lack the ability to conduct certain tests, such as data scanning on computers and digital communications, then we will use their expertise. But it will be the Maltese police who will be running the investigation,” the sources said.

They added that the foreign investigators would need Maltese police with them to give local context on the evidence. Other members of the police force raised concerns about how the investigation would be coordinated given the number of different entities.

“Some are questioning how we are going to have all these cooks in the kitchen. I hope we don’t end up like a group of headless chickens,” an officer, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

FBI agents landed on the island last night, joining a team of Dutch forensics experts and other investigators from London’s Scotland Yard.

An autopsy is expected to be carried out today, and sources said information may be communicated to the press towards the end of the week.