The EU said Tuesday it was "horrified" after a Maltese journalist who investigated corruption in premier Joseph Muscat's inner circle was killed by a car bomb, calling for justice to be done in the case.

"We are horrified by the fact that a well known and respected Maltese journalist, Ms Daphne Caruana Galizia, lost her life yesterday in what was seemingly a targeted attack," European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters.