Juan Ameen
Arsonist catches fire
As can be seen in the still taken from the security camera, a man set fire to flammable liquid thrown at Ian Castaldi Paris' house.
A person who tried to set fire to the house of a mayor turned into a ball of fire himself after his clothes, probably soaked in flammable liquid, burst into flames.
Dramatic CCTV footage from the house of Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris shows the silhouette of what appears to be a man walking up to the door and then getting engulfed by flames before he runs out of the camera's line of vision still ablaze.
He is also believed to have set alight the mayor's garage door and two neighbouring cars by throwing a burning parcel.
Dr Castaldi Paris heard an explosion just as he was about to go to sleep at about 11.30 p.m. He went on the balcony and saw his neighbours' cars burst into flame. CCTV footage showed the man, still on fire, running away.
Despite the likely injuries, however, the arsonist has still not been apprehended. He has not turned up for medication anywhere, the police said.
Although the attack targeted Dr Castaldi Paris' house, his neighbours' cars sustained the most damage. His garage door was only slightly blackened while the cars, parked back to back, were almost totally destroyed at the rear. Their tyres melted, leaving only the metal threads and rims. Fire-fighters were called in almost immediately but the damage was still extensive.
Even the façade of a neighbouring house was blackened and the plastic case of a burglar alarm set on the wall melted.
Dr Castaldi Paris was evidently angry. "This attack has touched my family, which is unacceptable. My three-year-old daughter was shocked and asked me where is the bad man who did it," he said.
He could not pinpoint the reason behind the attack but said he had received an anonymous, threatening letter around two months ago, which referred to his campaign against certain developments in Lija.
Another warning came when someone knocked heavily on his door at about 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday, the mayor said. He did not think much of it either but has now also given the police the recorded CCTV footage of that occasion.
Messages of support for Dr Castaldi Paris and his family and condemnation of the act poured in from local councils, political parties and environment groups.
(Clarification: With reference to the above report Dr Castaldi Paris has clarified that he did not show the threatening letter he had received to PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier. He said that the decision to ignore the threatening letter was purely a family decision.)
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
malcolm seychell
Apr 18th 2009, 22:51
The problem is that the criminal did not burn completely.
At least we would have one less criminal in our streets.
Charles Sammut
Apr 18th 2009, 19:53
@ Adrian Cardona
I am not losing any sleep over this idiot's predicament.
I was merely questioning whether a doctor would get into trouble for informing the police should this person seek medical help.
Should this criminal be brought to justice, I hope he gets the same spiel addressed to an incompetent thief recently. The magistrate called him a disgrace to his profession and sent him down for a decent period to rethink his ways. In the case of this wannabe arsonist, he should be awarded the Autogoal Cup of the year!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 18th 2009, 19:08
Even if the Perpetrator seems to have got his just desserts, I still believe that this must have been a very traumatic experience for Dr Castaldi Paris and as such, rather than focusing on his bursting into flames, I suggest we offer our support to Dr. Castaldi Paris.
Vanessa Mifsud
Apr 18th 2009, 18:34
This is entertaining lol!! Hopefully he'll get caught and get what he deserves!
Adrian Cardona
Apr 18th 2009, 18:26
@Charles Sammut
I don't think I would lose much sleep if he does get a mass infection. These spineless wretches don't deserve any sympathy at all, especially when one thinks about how easily they can kill people with their actions. I can only smile at the thought of him frantically trying to put out the flames he so idiotically managed to get onto himself.
jesmond zammit
Apr 18th 2009, 17:23
jalla min jinqabad jehel piena li tkun ta ezempju .
hasra li fuq net tv ma semmewx il kundanna tal pl .f dawn il mumenti hadd m ghandu jiehu vantagg politiku bhal qabel.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 18th 2009, 17:20
@ Robin Zammit: '@Franco Farrugia - I hope u mean the arsonist not our Mayor!'
I won't even bother to reply to that assertion!!
Charles Sammut
Apr 18th 2009, 17:15
What would be the position of a doctor asked to treat this criminal's burns? Would the doctor be obliged to inform the authorities? Would that be unethical?
I ask because if this person suffered what are probably quite serious burns and does not get proper treatment, he could easily succumb to mass infection.
c.camilleri
Apr 18th 2009, 15:51
We all hope that the culprit will be caught and given the lesson he/she deserves. We cannot allow a situation where the Mayor cannot do his/her duty because of being threatened by persons with selfish motives. .
Robin Zammit
Apr 18th 2009, 11:54
@Franco Farrugia
I hope u mean the arsonist not our Mayor!
Keep up the good work Mr. Mayor. All my solidarity to you and your family, and your neighbours. Hopefully the villans will be brought to justice.
Astrid Vella
Apr 18th 2009, 11:46
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar condemns unequivocally the cowardly attack on Dr. Castaldi Paris and the damage his neighbours.
Dr. Castaldi Paris and the Lija Council have been on the forefront of movement for local councils to really look after the interests of their residents and their locality, even if this means challenging MEPA decisions. His Council has objected to abusive applications in order to prevent further damage to the unique character and way of life of the Three Villages.
Lija Council has also taken the lead in challenging the 2006 Local Plans, where changes were made to the designation of areas without full public consultation. Many of these changes all over Malta have now been seen to favour eventual developments against the interests of the residents.
Our sympathy goes to Dr. Castaldi Paris and his neighbours in this worrying time.
Joseph Schembri
Apr 18th 2009, 11:40
We need more mayors like the Lija mayor who is really there for the people of his lovely village. He is the only man in Malta with enough guts to have taken on mobile phone companies for putting up base stations metres away from people's bedrooms. There is ample evidence that these base stations which are sprouting up in every locality in Malta cause a whole lot of repercussions in people living near them.
Ian Castaldi Paris was man enough to challenge, in the name of his fellow villagers, the gutless MEPA and arrogant mobile phone companies in court. Other mayors are more intent on collecting fines for a little dog poo or for parking in a 'residents' parking slot. Let me not go on about the other questionable activities that some mayors engage in. There will be time and space for this some other time.
In this country when one acts like a man one gets attacked by gutless cowards. - so Ian take this despicable attack as another feather in your cap.
Eric Camilleri
Apr 18th 2009, 10:31
Arson attacks of this nature can be very dangerous as they may lead to the worst apart from damage to properties. Some solidarity expressed to the neighbours of Dr Castaldi Paris would have been very appropriate on both TV and paper media coverage, since afterall they suffered the most innocent damages. On a different note it is important that CCTV cameras are set with correct date and time since this footage shows year 2000 + wrong time.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 18th 2009, 10:28
I so hate to say this, but I will: Serve him right!