Hotelier and caterer Anton B. Dougal said today that he refused to be intimidated after unknown persons set fire to the front door of his Swieqi home and left two dead rabbits with threatening messages written on them.

He said he was woken up at 3 a.m. with the sound of breaking glass and saw a blaze on his front door.

Somebody, he said, had placed a burning tyre against the door along with the two dead rabbits.

Mr Dougall and his family, later assisted by policemen and the fire brigade, quickly doused the flames.

Mr Dougall, who owns a hotel in St Julians, said that while he did not know who was being this act, he had given some pointers to the police. He preferred not to give more details.

"I can point some fingers, and I can tell you that I will not be intimidated, although this incident worried my family," he said.

He also regretted the cruelty caused to the rabbits.

The police are investigating.