Two drunken Britons who staged an impromptu photo session in a sentry box outside the President’s Palace in Valletta at about 2 a.m. yesterday ended behind bars after they allegedly fought with a soldier and injured a police officer who tried to stop them.

Thomas Devenish, 25, who resides in Msida, and William Mchugh, 24, a tourist staying in St Julians, were arrested at about 2.45 a.m. after a soldier and a police officer were attacked, the latter fracturing his hand, police sources said.

The two men were photographing themselves in the sentry boxes in St George’s Square and, while “fooling around”, were seen on security cameras by a soldier stationed inside the President’s Palace. He stepped outside and asked them to stop but the men turned on him, the sources said.

While they were wrestling, a police officer on patrol heard people shouting and went to investigate. One of the men allegedly tripped the officer and he fell, breaking his hand.

The men are expected to be arraigned today.

The sentry boxes were installed in September in connection with the changing of the guard parade. The parade was relaunched after 40 years and two sentries in ceremonial uniform are stationed on guard duties outside the palace daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.