Updated - Adds new details

Two men were injured this evening during an attempted hold-up on a jeweller outside his home in Attard, the police said.

Three hooded men approached Michael Mizzi, 52 and his son as they were entering their home in Old Railway Road and demanded a suitcase which Mr Mizzi was carrying.

A struggle ensued and Mr Mizzi was hit on the head with a blunt object, possibly a pistol butt. His son, 25, managed to grab one of the attackers' pistols and shot him in one of his legs.

The injured aggressor is Darren Debono, 33 of Marsacala who was allegedly also involved in the attempted hold-up at the HSBC depot in June, when he was also shot and injured.

He was taken to hospital in an ambulance escorted by policemen.

Another ambulance took Mr Mizzi to hospital for treatment.

The aggressors did not manage to enter Mr Mizzi's house.

The incident took place at about 8.20 p.m.

The other two aggressors escaped . A burnt van thought to have been used by the burglars was found a short time later abandoned between Attard and Mosta .