Sandro Mangion, editor-in-chief of Union Press - publishers of l-orizzont and It-Torca - has reported a threat against him on Facebook after he declared he would vote No in the spring hunting referendum.

Mr Mangion had said on Facebook that he personally had nothing against hunters. Nor was he against hunting in principle, but he was against hunting in spring and would vote No to ensure the countryside was open to everyone in the best time of the year.

This morning, Mr Mangion reproduced part of a threat he had received online. It said that if the No vote wins “then you will be the first person that we...”

Mr Mangion did not wish to disclose the nature of the threat.

On Facebook, the editor wrote: "After I listened to, read, and discussed the matter at length, today I can say I'm decided 100 per cent that I will vote no to spring hunting on April 11."

In a comment to Times of Malta, Mr Mangion said the Union Print publications had adopted a neutral stand about the referendum and he would not let his personal views interfere with carrying out his work professionally.

The incident was condemned by both the pro-hunting lobby group and the Spring Hunting Out (SHout) campaign.

Pro Spring hunting spokeswoman Kathleen Grima condemned the threats  saying she too had been on the receiving end of unsavoury messages.

“Threats are always wrong. I can understand how he must feel, as I myself have received messages of this nature. He is not alone,” she said.

One of the threats received by hunters on facebook.

Dr Grima said she was not alone and other members of the pro hunting lobby had received threats. In fact, a police report has been filed against one person who Dr Grima claimed had repeatedly harassed one member of the lobby group.

Messages allegedly sent to the young pro hunter, seen by this website, hurled abuse and profanities at her even singling out her baby boy.

Dr Grima said other youths had also been harassed while handing out fliers in Gozo.

She said the lobby group had not come forward with these issues before, because they did not want the hunting referendum campaign to be marred with the actions of a few wrong does.

She also took issue with what she claimed was the deliberate portrayal of the hunting lobby, by the No camp, as criminals and thugs.

“These people do not represent hunters," she said.

SHout spokesman Mark Sultana said that what Mr Mangion experienced was typical of what many individuals who took a stand were experiencing.

“This is the kind of culture we have been facing for years from hunters,” he said.

Speaking in St Anne’s Square in Sliema, Mr Sultana said:

“We are here in Sliema because we want Sliema residents to know that they should vote no. Sliema is one of the localities that will not be holding a local council election. It is imperative that residents go out to vote, exercising their democratic right."

“By voting no we will put an end to spring hunting in Malta and make this country a better place,” he said.