An attempted hold-up in a residence in Attard was botched last night when the victim, a middle-aged jeweller, snatched the shotgun from his assailants and shot one of them, probably in his leg.

At least one of the three aggressors, the injured one, was likely to also have been involved in the recent HSBC armed robbery that was also foiled, police sources said.

The injured assailant was taken to hospital on a stretcher in an ambulance with a policeman inside it. Sources said he was being operated on last night.

The other two escaped from the scene in a white van which was later found burnt in the region between Mosta and Attard.

The aggressors were hooded.

The incident happened round about 8.45 p.m. in Old Railway Street, Attard, a quiet residential area parallel to Notabile Road.

The victim was unofficially named as Michael Mizzi, owner of The Gold Market. He too was taken to hospital suffering from shock and slight injuries.

The aggressors never made it into his home.