Patient stabs policeman

A mentally ill patient escaped from Mount Carmel hospital yesterday, stabbing a policeman who tried to stop him before he was eventually overpowered.

The police said the policeman, a sergeant of the special assignment group, sustained serious hand injuries.

At about 1.15 p.m. the police were informed that a person was disturbing the peace at the hospital. Birkirkara district police officers went on the spot to find that a patient was trying to leave the hospital against doctor's orders. When officers approached him to try and talk to him, he drew a knife and threatened them with it.

Sources said that as he made his way to the gate and out onto the street he continued to threaten hospital staff with a penknife.

Members of the SAG were called in and surrounded him with the help of district police officers. However, an SAG sergeant was injured in the struggle to get him past the gates back into the hospital grounds.

Sources said the police had to make use of pepper spray.