The mood in London – the scene of riots and violence since the weekend – has been described as “tense” by Maltese living there and they are exercising caution and changing their plans, although they may not have experienced the unrest first hand.
Malta also decided to temporarily close its High Commission in the British capital as rumours spread that there could be riots in the area during the night. The High Commission would reopen as soon as it “is believed to be safe”, a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman said.
(London, however, was quiet last night as 16,000 police officers were deployed on its streets).
Although Maltese in London may not have witnessed the scenes of thuggery and criminality by the hooded mobs that have hit the streets, they are not unaffected and unfazed by the goings-on.
Many have been in touch with other Maltese to “check on each other” and have been inundated by calls from family and friends in a show of solidarity between them. Some have considered the option of returning to Malta if the violence escalates.
Although they do not reside in the areas that have, so far, been the stage for the rampage, torching and looting, an element of fear is lingering and they fail to understand the cause of the violent outbreaks.
“It is hard to define the rioters’ motive,” said cosmetic specialist Raina Zarb Adami about the “loads of teenagers that are looting London”. She is ready to fly back to Malta “in a heartbeat” if the situation deteriorates.
“We have never experienced such a situation and while terrorist attacks may not come as such a surprise, these riots are totally unexpected.”
Dr Zarb Adami, who runs the Aesthetic Virtue Clinic in Knightsbridge, lives in a residential area in South Kensington and believes commercial properties are being targeted more.
She is, therefore, more worried about her clinic, which is surrounded by shops. “I tend to leave quite late at night, so I am concerned I may come across a mob of petrol-bombing, hooded youths.”
The riots were definitely damaging to Dr Zarb Adami’s business, although August was fortunately one of the quieter months.
Meanwhile, an e-mail from the charity she works for has told staff to go home early due to “potential rioting in Uxbridge and more trouble flaring up in other parts of London”.
Her friend, Simona Camilleri, also lives in a quiet, residential area but was “rather scared last night” given that the riots were spreading around London and closing.
She works in Chalk Farm, one of the scenes of the rioting, where a bike shop had eight of its windows smashed as she walked down the cordoned-off road.
“The employees were clearing up the debris, the police were outside and bikes had been stolen. A few doors down, Sainsbury’s was also badly damaged and had been raided,” she said.
Employees at her workplace have been told to leave by 6 p.m. and the idea is not to be out on the streets late but “it seems to me that it is about theft and thuggery rather than attacking individuals,” she said.
Actress Francesca Fenech lives in Paddington, so she has not experienced the rioting but the University she had attended is in Clapham, close to the action, and many of her friends still live there.
“We do not know where the riots are going to strike next, so I am careful at night,” the 21-year-old said, planning to be “extra cautious” and stay in yesterday.
University student Lea Gatt, who lives in Russell Square, never expected such a threat to safety in a city like London and while she has not witnessed any rioting, she has friends who have had to leave their homes.
“It seems to me like a case of violence for the sake of violence,” Ms Gatt said, adding that “no message is coming out of this”.
Ms Gatt was confident the situation would return to normal. However, London’s image and general safety in the run-up to the Olympic Games was at stake, she pointed out.
Another Maltese actor, Jean-Marc Cafà, who lives between Battersea and Clapham, said he was scared and intimidated by the riots 15 minutes away from his door on Monday night.
Beyond the thuggery, much solidarity has been expressed, with doors opening up for those who needed to get away, he said.
Mr Cafà said shows had been cancelled as a precaution and rehearsals ended early.
“I do not understand the point the rioters are trying to make... The last thing they should be doing is attacking the affected community.”
The social media had their advantages in that it was easy to check on friends but the downside was that they built up the hype and, consequently, the panic as predictions were made about the next riot’s location, he said.
Mr Cafà was planning to be in by sunset and keep an eye out for what was going on, although the riots were isolated and unexpected.
For Sharon Spiteri, the images on TV seem to be “happening in a parallel London”. She was in Piccadilly Circus on Monday night and walked through Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road – both hot spots – but “saw, heard and felt nothing”.
Life in London continued as normal, she said, adding that “we have scares regularly”.
Ms Spiteri lives close to Enfield, where rioting has occurred, but the sound of sirens on a Saturday night is “really nothing remarkable”, so she did not think much of it.
Nevertheless, based on the news footage she has seen, she cancelled her plans to go to her book club in East London yesterday evening, following the advice of the Met Police to remain home.
The government said any Maltese nationals in the UK who might need assistance while the High Commission was closed should call 07836 503 990. The number should only be used by Maltese who required assistance while in the UK, a spokesman stressed.