Another young man has come forward claiming to have been assaulted by a Gżira gang, following a series of reports of unprovoked attacks in the area by a group of youths.
The most recent incident happened last Wednesday at 8.30 p.m. when a 24-year-old computer technician was walking with his girlfriend on the Gżira front.
The young man, who did not want his name published, said a group of about 10 individuals, all of whom appeared to be younger than 20, approached him to ask for the time. "I told them I didn't have the time because I didn't wear a watch and before I knew it they had punched me in the face and knocked me out on the ground," he said.
While on the ground they continued to punch and kick him while his girlfriend begged them to stop and was pushed away.
The man ended with a black eye and lots of bruising but the consequences could have been much worse.
"Two years ago I had a major operation and my knee still locks till this day, so I couldn't get up. These guys were total cowards," he said, adding that, although not very well-built, they had strength in numbers and he could not fight back.
When the group of aggressors had their fill, they left the scene and the young couple called the police.
"A very helpful police sergeant arrived shortly afterwards and drove me to hospital and I've been in touch with her ever since to help her identify them."
He said the group of guys looked "very rough" and he would recognise them easily if he saw them again.
"It's crazy. I am so angry. They're just picking on people. These are rubbish people," he said.
The Times yesterday reported that a gang of youths aged between 14 and 25 were regularly attacking other young people without provocation in the area between Gżira and Sliema.
The police said two young people were expected to be arraigned shortly over one particular incident and investigations were ongoing. The police have also stepped up patrols in the area to prevent such incidents.
Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man said the simple act of sitting on a bench in the area had become a problem.
"Young people circle me on their bicycles and it's not the first time one of them drove over my foot on purpose. What can I do? I also remember seeing them terrifying a pregnant woman," he said, adding that more surveillance was needed.
Reports of unprovoked gang violence have also come in from Valletta and Pembroke.
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association yesterday described gang violence as a threat to tourism and urged the government to take immediate and drastic steps to put a stop to it.
"Malta enjoys a reputation among tourists as being a safe place, free from mugging and attacks of this nature. Clearly, this style of gang activity witnessed in some countries has, through the media, now produced a copycat effect locally."