Arson attack in Zejtun

A Zejtun family was nastily awakened at about 2.45 a.m. yesterday after an unknown person or persons set fire to their front door.

A source close to the police said it appeared that someone had doused the door with petrol and placed a container with petrol on the doorstep and set it alight.

No harm to any other part of the house was reported but the family car, which was parked in front of the residence, was badly damaged.

The source said the family members were so distraught that after firemen had put out the blaze, they locked themselves in and did not want to open the door to speak to the police, expressing anger at the police officers.

Although arsonists are seldom caught, the law is very tough in cases of arson. Imprisonment is contemplated as a penalty.

Anyone found guilty of committing arson without danger to life and limb can be imprisoned for a term of two to four years. If someone sets fire to a place in which he could have foreseen the presence of people, the prison term ranges between nine and 12 years even if no one is hurt.

If someone dies following an arson attack, the law contemplates life imprisonment.

The only lacuna in the law is that cars are not covered by the section that deals with arson so people end up being charged with wilful damage, which carries a lesser punishment.