Girl, man hospitalised after separate arson incidents

A girl was hospitalised suffering from smoke inhalation after arsonists targeted two houses early yesterday morning.

The police said the first case was reported at 2.45 a.m. in Main Street, Mellieħa, when a tyre was placed against the façade of a house and set on fire, extensively damaging the front door. Unidentified liquid was also thrown against the door. Nobody was injured.

A second residence was targeted in Mikelanġ Sapiano Street, Mqabba, when the main door was set alight. Although no one was injured, a 14-year-old girl had to be hospitalised after inhaling smoke. The Civil Protection Department was called in to assist.

The incident took place close to a similar arson attack on Friday when the door of a house in Triq il-Madonna tal-Ġilju, Mqabba, was also set on fire. Also yesterday morning, a Peugeot car was extensively damaged after it was engulfed by flames when it was parked beneath Fort St Elmo in Valletta. The fire was extinguished by the CPD.

Last night a police statement said that the car was allegedly torched by its owner, after it was previously involved in a hit-and-run accident involving three other vehicles. The car owner sustained burns and is being treated in hospital.

The police are investigating all cases.