Migrants at a popular meeting area in Marsa have been terrorised by a series of drive-by attacks over the last three weeks, by aggressors who they claim have pelted them with eggs, glass bottles and even a metal fire extinguisher.
The alleged attacks have all taken place on Triq is-Salib tal-Marsa, the majority on a stretch of road between Holy Trinity Church and Albert Town. The area is home to a number of African bars and shops, and is a popular meeting place for a community of mostly Somali migrants who stop by after work and on weekends.
At least 10 people have been victims of attacks in recent weeks, with one requiring medical attention for a deep gash on his leg inflicted by a wine bottle thrown at him while he stood at the side of the road talking to some friends. A report from the health centre was seen by this newspaper.
Abdirahman Khalif, a Somali migrant who was with the victim at the time of the attack, claimed the assailants and the style of the attack have been the same in each instance over recent weeks.
A number of people, including several shop owners, who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta all described a white car with a driver and two passengers. The attackers allegedly “patrol” the area at night, driving round slowly with their lights off, before throwing objects out of a window at passers-by and speeding off. Victims said the assailants never left their vehicle or spoke to them. Nevertheless, they are convinced the attacks are racially motivated, particularly as lighter-skinned North African and Middle Eastern nationals who frequent the area have never been targeted.
When this newspaper visited the area yesterday, debris from glass bottles was still visible along the road and several shops and garages showed evidence of having been pelted with eggs. One shop-owner showed a small fire extinguisher which he said had been thrown at him from the car.
Mr Khalif said the victims had managed to note down the car’s registration number and had tried to pass the details on to the police, but had so far been met with obstacles.
“First we were told we had to go to a different police station, then we were told that all the victims had to come together to make a report, which is very difficult for us to organise,” Mr Khalif said.
Questions were sent to the police yesterday afternoon but no response was received by the time of going to print.
John Christopher, who owns an African food shop in the area, said police had visited his shop after eggs were thrown at an outside wall but he was not aware of any further action having been taken. “We are always afraid that someone is going to be badly hurt. There’s nothing we can do about it – just pray to God”, he said.
This is not the first time the area has been targeted, according to Mr Christopher, but where a few months ago the incidents were sporadic, in recent weeks they have taken place nearly every night.
A migrant-owned establishment in Ħamrun has also been the target of an attack in recent weeks.
We are not here to fight or make problems
Some locals expressed fears that the current situation could quickly get worse, either if the assailants adopted an even more violent approach, or if a victim attempted to defend themselves or retaliated to the attacks, despite warnings from other members of the community not to escalate the situation.
“It’s not fair; we are human beings,” said Prince Muki Osunde, a shop-owner who was also the victim of a similar attack elsewhere in Marsa. “We are not here to fight or make problems – Malta is our home. But the government must help to protect us. The law must prevail.”
The alleged attacks follow a police report earlier this week filed by a black 21-year-old French man against four bouncers at a Paceville nightclub, who he claimed assaulted him and yelled racist abuse.
Last summer, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli publicly apologised to Hungarian student Jack Daboma after he was the victim of a racially-motivated assault in Valletta.