The Vittoriosa archpriest has filed a report after the figure of the Risen Christ ended up armless following an incident at the traditional Easter Sunday run.

The damaged statue last Sunday.

The statue's arm, made of wood, was severed after it hit a cable wire in Triq il-Ħabs l-Antik as statue-bearers negotiated a bend.

The disappointed parish priest Karm Busuttil has now turned to the police to file a report on a wire, which he claimed was hanging too low.

"The wire could have caused grievous injuries," he said, adding that if the bearers were carrying the statue on their shoulders rather than their hands, the figure would have fallen right off the pedestal.

The statue, which was designed in 1833, holds special significance for Vittoriosa residents, who look forward to Easter Sunday celebrations with anticipation.

The wire could have caused grievous injuries

"This is no joke," Fr Busuttil said. "That statue is hundreds of years old and people were worried when they saw the damage."

The priest said he was not aware who was responsible for the installation of the cable wire.

He said he had not yet received an accurate estimate of the damage, but estimated that it would cost thousands of euros to repair.

"Someone could have been seriously hurt... The wire is still over there, swinging in the street.”

The statue-bearers were equally devastated, he said, adding that some devotees of the feast in Vittoriosa were moved to tears after seeing the damage.