Updated Friday 11am - Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today there was no information that two Syrians stopped before boarding a flight to Malta yesterday had ulterior motives.

Referring to international media reports yesterday, Dr Muscat said the matter was in the hands of the Italian authorities. He said the mobile phones of the two did not carry pictures of the Isis flag. There was one picture on one of the men's mobile phones showing a relative who took part in the Syrian war and holding a firearm.   

The two Syrians were arrested at the airport in Bergamo, Italy.

Italian media reported that the Syrians, aged 19 and 30, had fake Norwegian and Austrian passports but officials became suspicious when the two could only speak Arabic.

One of the men claimed that the photos were memories of his dead brother while the other said that a man seen holding a gun in a photo was his cousin.

The Italian court is expected to deliver judgement on November 26.

Investigators are going through the material found.

Dr Muscat in his comments this morning said that it was known that there were a large number of false documents going around.

"We need to understand whether they were simply travelling to Malta, or whether they had other intentions."

He urged vigilance but said people should not give in to paranoia.

Referring to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta meeting next week, he said there was no basis to alter plans, adding that there were no credible indications of a threat against Malta.

However Dr Muscat said he was prepared to take any decision, even cancellation of the event, if needs be.