Hagar Qim vandalism alarms heritage group

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna has expressed dismay at the apparent ease with which acts of vandalism recurred at the Hagar Qim archaeological park.

The recent act, in which a gate was set on fire, showed that the precious ancient sites at this location were still prone to vandalism, it said.

FWA said its sense of alarm was further reinforced by the fact that this recent arson was not an isolated incident.

In under 20 months at least three such attacks occurred in the area without any culprits being caught or punished.

Following the devastating attack on Mnajdra on Good Friday in 2001, FWA said that one would have expected effective action to be taken to protect these sites.

FWA appealed to the newly constituted Heritage Malta, under whose responsibility the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim archaeological park now falls, to take immediate steps to bring an end to this shameful state of affairs.