Police rescue man from mob after stabbing in Paceville

Paceville was the scene early yesterday morning of a club brawl that led to a stabbing followed by a mob chasing a man who had to be rescued from an attack by the police.

The police arrested a 16-year-old boy from Mosta and an 18-year-old man from Għargħur who are believed to have been involved in the stabbing of an 18-year-old from Sliema. He was critically injured although his condition later improved.

The victim and one of the suspects are believed to have got involved in an argument in a club in St George’s Road, Paceville just before 1 a.m., sources said.

Insults flew between the Sliema boy and the other two teenagers and it escalated into a full-blown fight. However, it then spiralled out of control when friends, including foreigners, got involved, the sources added.

The police received word of the incident at about 1 a.m. and when they got to St George’s Bay they saw a “large group” of people running after a man.

In a statement, the police said the officers had to intervene to “protect the alleged suspect” as he was going to be attacked. They brought the situation under control. Soon afterwards, the police found the young man who had been stabbed in the stomach and he was rushed to hospital. Sources said a flick knife was used on him.

The police made two arrests and the arraignments are expected to take place today.

The victim was originally in a critical condition but he was later stabilised and his condition is no longer life-threatening.

Duty magistrate Doreen Clarke appointed experts to help her in an inquiry.