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VALLETTA (Reuters) – Investigators have identified a group of at least three Maltese nationals who they say is behind the killing of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. 13 months, reported Sunday the Sunday Times of Malta.
She did not reveal their names, but senior officers at the head of the murder investigation said their investigation was at a "very advanced stage".
The police did not immediately comment on the press report.
The sources quoted by the Sunday Times of Malta do not indicate how long the investigation may last or whether there were new arrests in this case.
Caruana Galizia, who wrote an anti-corruption blog, was killed by a car bomb near the Maltese capital, Valletta, in October 2017. A murder that scandalized Europe and raised questions about it. rule of law on the Mediterranean island.
Three men suspected of having been charged with perpetrating the murder have been under arrest for nearly a year. They pleaded not guilty.
A court documenting the initial evidence against the trio heard evidence that they allegedly placed a bomb in Caruana Galizia's car and would have it triggered by an SMS message.
The motive for murder remains unknown. The Sunday Times said the investigators thought the brains had different motives and came together to engage the three accused men.
The sources would give no indication as to whether the brains came from the criminal, commercial or political sectors.
The investigators reportedly said they were in constant contact with Europol, the EU law enforcement authority, about the case. In recent weeks, this contact has intensified significantly as the police prepare to resolve the case.
"We have a large amount of data to analyze, and partners such as Europol have the experience and expertise to facilitate this process," a source told the newspaper.
(Report by Christopher Scicluna, edited by Crispian Balmer and Susan Fenton)