Updated - An anti-migration protest planned for today was cancelled at the last minute after organisers withdrew the application. However a group of some 100 people still held a 'walk' from Floriana to the Auberge de Castille, carrying Maltese flags. They were briefly addressed at Castille Square where they were described as heroes and is-skiet risposta. 

The group sang the Maltese national anthem.

The protest, organised by a member of right-wing group Imperium Europa, was meant to start at 10am and march from Floriana to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit said the organisers had withdrawn their application for a protest march permit at the eleventh hour.

John Paul Zammit, one of the organisers, said he decided to cancel the application because he did not want to be held responsible for the actions of the other protesters.

“I love my country and am ready to do everything for it but it isn’t nice to end up in prison because of somebody else’s actions,” he said.

The protest’s Facebook page and subsequent anti-migration social media platforms were yesterday riddled with a number of xenophobic comments.

One person, who claimed to be “a real Maltese patriot”, wrote on the protest’s page claiming he would not rest until he saw “this precious island cleared of African invaders, who want to destroy Maltese culture and civilisation”.