Police spokesperson Brandon Pisani has confirmed that police from the Drug Squad were tailing Bartolo when the suspect sped away, intentionally crashing into police cars in the process.

Gunshots were fired on the Mellieha bypass, near the roundabout leading up to Għadira, with police later confirming that they had fired the shots in an attempt to stop the man.

However, Bartolo managed to escape, abandoning his vehicle near Miżieb and fleeing on foot, triggering a massive manhunt.