The police are investigating two hold-ups which took place in Sliema and Sta Venera in the morning and the afternoon respectively.

In the morning case, a shop assistant was slightly injured in a hold-up on a souvenirs shop in St Dominic Street, Sliema, at about 9.45.

The police said two hooded men brandishing a knife had entered the shop and demanded cash.

The shop assistant, who was alone, suffered a slight injury to one of her hands when it was struck with the knife.

The thieves escaped with about €50. The police are questioning two foreigners,

In the second case, at about 5 pm. a man distracted a shop assistant and grabbed cash from the till of an industrial supplies shop in St Joseph High Road, Sta Venera. Just over €200 were stolen.

Magistrate Myriam Hayman is holding an inquiry into both cases.