Audacious gang killings in public a new phenomenon

Criminal gangs attacking each other is not a new phenomenon but the audacity of recent killings shocked people, according to a criminologist. Saviour Formosa says fighting between gangs happened in the past but the latest spate of murders is worrying because of the place where they occurred. “The methodology used is shocking because killings have happened in public places, sometimes in full view of others, with the assailants unbothered by the attention,” Dr Formosa notes. Killings involving different gang members are normally associated with a turf war that may have economic implications, he explains, but settling scores in public places seems to be a new phenomenon. He does not rule out that the murders were carried out by foreign hit men but is cautious on this line of reasoning. Maltese criminals may be using this method to make it seem like a foreigner did it, he quickly adds. Police historian Eddie Attard records 25 murders over the past five years of which nine remain unsolved. Three of the unsolved murders involved drive-by shootings where the victims were killed at almost point-blank range. Businessman Joseph Baldacchino was shot in 2010 soon after parking his car near...