Four treated for injuries after Valletta disturbance

A quarrel between a Somali couple in Valletta ended with four people - a man, his wife and another Somali woman and a four-month-old baby - receiving medical treatment for slight injuries.

The Somali man, 25, was injured when he was allegedly beaten up by Valletta residents who had earlier seen him beat his wife's friend who was carrying his baby.

The Malta-born four-month-old baby was injured when it fell to the ground. The baby was kept in hospital for observation.

The disturbance in Old Hospital Street last Sunday evening started when the couple, who had originally come to Malta as illegal immigrants and were granted refugee status, were involved in a quarrel. Sources said that the husband was drunk.

Police sources said the quarrel soon developed into a fight and the husband allegedly started beating up his wife and throwing objects at her.

At one point the woman escaped from their residence and went to another Somali woman friend who lives close by and frantically asked her to go and bring her the baby.

The friend went over to the couple's house and took the baby away. But when the husband realised this, he chased the woman.

He caught up with her and started punching and kicking her, sources said.

The sources added that the man snatched the baby but for some reason it fell to the ground and suffered a head injury.

The woman was beaten further as she lay over the baby to prevent the man from taking the child away.

The sources added that at this point a number of men who live in the area intervened and beat up the man. Other residents called the police.

The police led by Inspector Josric Mifsud and Sergeant Patrick Bonnici are investigating the incident.