More than one and a half thousand mourners in Malta attended the funeral of murdered anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The island observed a day of mourning during the funeral at Malta’s biggest church just two miles from the site where the 53-year-old was killed by a car bomb as she left her home nearly three weeks ago.

The island’s president, prime minister and opposition leader, all targeted in Caruana Galizia’s writing, stayed away from the private ceremony.

Mourners applauded, made “V” for victory signs and sung the national anthem as the coffin was carried to a hearse.

A household name in Malta, Caruana Galizia was well-known for stirring up passions and dividing opinion. Her murder shocked the tiny country and was condemned by all political parties.

The island’s government is offering a one million-euro reward for information about the bombing. But Caruana Galizia’s family has refused to endorse the reward and is calling for the resignation of the prime minister, the police commissioner and the attorney general.