Land Department employees this morning stopped a man who was about to assault the Director of Lands holding a piece of glass.

The incident happened at about 11 a.m. at the offices of the Lands Department in the Auberge de Baviere, Valletta.

Eyewitnesses said the man walked into the director’s office protesting because the lease of a property in Marsaxlokk was not being renewed. At one time some furniture and a window pane were broken and the man appeared to be about to assault the director when he was held back by the staff.

An ambulance was called to the site and the man was taken to hospital.

Sources said the man occupies a property which he had sub-let to third parties. The government had informed him in 2004 that the lease would not be renewed and that a fresh call for tender would be issued, with no right for first refusal.

The man had requested the courts to issue a warrant of prohibitory injunction but that was refused.