A Somali immigrant was taken to hospital in a critical condition on Sunday night after he was injured with a sharp object during a fight at Tent City in Ħal Far.

A number of other immigrants were involved in the incident and two others ended up in hospital with slight injuries.

A Ghanaian resident of Tent City said an argument broke out between rival Somali groups and this was in "retaliation" for another incident that happened a while ago.

He said most of the people involved in the fight were drunk, and he complained that most Somalis got into such fights frequently because they did not know their alcohol limits.

"They do not have alcohol in their country, so they drink it like water here and then they get drunk and violent very easily."

When contacted, Alex Tortell, director of the Organisation for Integration and Welfare of Asylum Seekers (Oiwas), said a police investigation was under way.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano is holding an inquiry while police investigations are continuing.

cperegin@timesofmalta.com

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