Two news cameramen were attacked yesterday while covering a huge fire that broke out in a scrapyard in Birżebbuġa.

A cameraman from Super One was punched in the face and floored while rocks were thrown at a Times of Malta videographer on a dirt track running alongside the scrapyard situated near Għar Dalam.

It is not known who the aggressor was but he yelled at the cameramen to stop filming and had to be held back by other people.

A videograb from Timesofmalta.com showing a man throwing stones at a Times of Malta videographer.

The incident was condemned by the Institute of Maltese Journalists, which urged the authorities to take action and protect journalists.

Neither of the cameramen reported any injuries but they had to beat a hasty retreat for fear the situation would get worse. Firemen were at the scene tackling the flames but the police had not yet arrived at that particular spot.

The police were yesterday investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, the fire, which started at about 11am, sent thick clouds of black smoke into the air which could be seen from quite a distance away.

The firemen who first arrived on site had to call for reinforcements as the blaze spread through the scrapyard and was proving difficult to put down.

The yard held hundreds of cars and car parts including highly flammable tyres.

At one point a loud blast was heard: a gas cylinder had exploded in the heat of the fire.

One fireman was slightly injured in the blast and a few others had to be taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

It took a few hours for the blaze to be brought under control and many vehicles were destroyed in the meantime.