A 26-year-old British man was grievously hurt on Monday morning when he was stabbed in the course of an argument that turned violent in Qawra.
Police said they were called to Triq il-Kavetta at around 7am following reports of an argument there.
In a statement, they said the 26-year-old man had gotten into a fight with a 22-year-old St Paul's Bay man who fled the scene.
The injured man was taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment.
Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia is leading an inquiry into the case, which is being investigated by police.