Four unemployed men from Cospicua were in what the police described as a “frightening” fight on Sunday afternoon.

Emanuel Azzopardi, 40, a father of 11, and his 37-year-old brother Michael were the first to be arraigned. They pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring Jeanfred Vella, 28, and assaulting his 52-year-old father Edwin.

The Vellas denied similar charges that included relapsing and seriously injuring Emanuel Azzopardi. All four were remanded in custody.

The fight took place in St Michael’s Street in Cospicua.

The older of the Azzopardi brothers appeared in court with a badly injured left eye and a sutured slash wound across his forehead.

Police Inspector Robert Said Sarreo said the brawl was a “frightening scene”.

The men, who live quite close to one another, had fought before but nothing compared to what happened on Sunday, police sources said.

The officer said he was objecting to bail because of the very real possibility that the men would clash again. In fact the police had taken every precaution to make sure they did not happen to cross paths before their arraignments.

Magistrate Anthony Vella remanded all four in custody.

Minutes after being arraigned, the Azzopardi brothers’ family made a loud and emotional scene outside the Family Court building as the men were being escorted into a waiting police car.

One woman talked loudly enough on her mobile phone to be heard clearly inside the court room on the first floor while a young man stamped his feet and cried hysterically before hugging Emanuel Azzopardi as he got into the police car.