A bullet and a threatening note referring to the current appeal being made by the Jesuits against the proposed nearby location of a shooting range complex was received at the Mount St Joseph Retreat House yesterday afternoon.

Provincial Patrick Magro said a report was filed immediately at the Mosta Police Station.

Mount St Joseph Retreat House. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The letter states:

“Dear Jesuit Fathers
There are two types of people in the world
Those who dig and
Those who hold a loaded gun

"You dig
We hold the loaded guns

"F--- with us
We will f--- you”.

The Jesuit community is objecting to plans for a shooting range on the outskirts of Mosta, saying it will “undermine” the tranquility of thousands of visitors at their retreat house at Mount St Joseph.

The government announced last month that the derelict military barracks at Tal-Busbesija would be leased to a private entity interested in building a shooting range there.

Fr Lino Spiteri. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Fr Lino Spiteri, who opened the letter, told Times of Malta he was not surprised by the threat as he had been expecting something to happen for some time.

“I was expecting this. I am not that worried, I’m more concerned that someone might do something stupid like vandalise our property,” he said.

Fr Spiteri said he had asked the police to stop by and check in on the retreat and that some of the staff had expressed concerns over their personal safety.

Father Magro said when contacted it was a “terrible shock” to hear of the threatening letter, especially the bullet.

The package, he said, was “clearly” linked to the Jesuit’s campaign to stop the development of a shooting range, but did not have any idea who could have sent it.

“These are powerful people behind the shooting range. Some of them have access to all kinds of ammunition. They want us to shut up but we will see this through to the end,” he said, adding that he was not sure whether this was a serious threat or a practical joke.

Both the letter and the bullet have been handed over the police who are investigating the matter.

The letter quotes the 1966 Spaghetti Western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and a pivotal scene in which Clint Eastwood’s character tells a Mexican bandit that there are two types of people: “Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”

In a statement, the Nationalist Party expressed solidarity with the Jesuits.