An Egyptian national viciously attacked a traffic policeman, punching him so hard that his helmet was shattered and his protective clothing torn, a court heard yesterday.

Tamer Mohamed Hussein Rozik, a 36-year-old seaman, admitted to slightly injuring police constable Etienne Grima soon after Tuesday’s Isle of MTV concert at the Granaries in Floriana.

He was arraigned under arrest before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras charged with assaulting the policeman, threatening him, damaging his uniform and damaging a Peugeot Partner.

He was further charged with damaging a stretcher at the Floriana health centre when he bit it in a fit of rage, disobeying police orders, resisting arrest, assaulting another three police officers who tried to restrain him and breaching the peace.

Police inspector Pierguido Saliba told the court that PC Grima was one of many police officers directing traffic around the Granaries following the Isle of MTV concert attended by some 60,000 people.

The policeman’s attention was drawn to a man who jumped onto the bonnet of a car and was trying to pull off its wipers.

He was radioing for help while he was on the ground being beaten up

He said that when PC Grima approached the accused, he assaulted him and began punching and kicking him. He said the attack was so vicious that the traffic policeman’s helmet was broken and his protective clothing ripped.

“I can still vividly remember PC Grima radioing for help while he was on the ground being beaten up,” Inspector Saliba said.

“Had it not been for the prompt action of several passers-by who intervened to restrain the accused who was hitting the police officer with all his might, the story here would have been different,” he added.

He said Rapid Intervention Unit officers intervened and even they were assaulted by the man. When he was taken to the Valletta police station, the disturbance continued and officers had to tie his feet to stop him from kicking them.

The Egyptian continued being rowdy even when he was taken to the Floriana health centre to receive treatment for injuries he had sustained, even biting off part of the stretcher canvas.

Magistrate Galea Sciberras heard how he had caused almost €1,400 in damage and his employers, Virtu Ferries Limited, which owns the vessel on which Mr Rozik works, were ready to pay for the damage.

She postponed the case to Tuesday, ordering that Mr Rozik be remanded in custody in the meantime.

Police inspector Pricilla Caruana Lee also prosecuted while lawyer Abigail Bugeja appeared for the man.