An unknown number of migrants are still on the loose after landing in Marsaxlokk by boat in a large group on Sunday morning and escaping from the grasp of soldiers and police.

A spokesman for the army said yesterday that mayhem broke out when many of the over 260 migrants on board suddenly jumped into the shallow waters and swam ashore.

Security forces who were standing in wait immediately gave chase and quickly rounded up most of the immigrants, some of whom, eyewitnesses said, had tried to hide in the shrubbery. However, an unknown number still managed to get away.

Five immigrants then jumped out of a military lorry when it stopped at traffic lights, as they were being taken away for questioning.

Sources said the incident led to a squabble between the army and police, with the former arguing that the lorry should have been escorted by the latter and the police insisting that a soldier should have sat beside the migrants.

Scores of police cars and motorcycles have since been patrolling the south and two immigrants were rounded up on Sunday.

Following media reports of the immigrants' arrival, members of the public have been calling the police claiming to have possibly seen one of the escaped migrants.

This was the largest group of migrants to arrive for a number of years. Unusually, however, most of them were not from Sub-Saharan Africa and, therefore, were automatically disqualified from seeking refugee or humanitarian status.

Some claimed to be Kurdish while others later said they were from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan and India. The group also included a number of Nigerians. A Justice Ministry spokesman yesterday said the majority will be repatriated according to the usual procedure, which involves obtaining valid travel documents for the persons involved.

The process has already been set in motion through the normal diplomatic channels, the spokesman said.

Until the paperwork is finalised, the immigrants will be kept in detention centres, except for those who are considered to be vulnerable people, as was normal practice.

When asked how the ministry viewed this unusual landing the spokesman said the immigrants were clear that Malta was not their intended destination as they were headed for Italy and France.

There is no reason to suspect there is a "new immigration trend" emerging, the spokesman said.