There was further international condemnation after the death of Mamadou Kamara yesterday as two top Council of Europe parliamentary representatives decried the incident.

Italian parliamentarian Giacomo Santini and his Swedish counterpart Tina Acketoft both welcomed the Maltese government’s announcement that it would be rapidly investigating the incident.

Mr Santini and Ms Acketoft jointly chair the Council of Europe’s migration and equality committee.

Mr Kamara, a 32-year-old Malian, was reported dead one week ago, shortly after he had been recaptured by detention personnel following an attempt to escape Safi detention centre. Two members of Malta’s armed forces have been charged with his murder.

The two Council of Europe representatives likened the case to other attacks on migrants and refugees across Europe, singling out Greece for particular criticism.

They emphasised the need to stamp out violence against migrants and refugees, whether by state actors or by individuals.

“Persons responsible for such violence must be brought to account,” they concluded.