A 22-year-old Libyan defiantly gave the middle finger to journalists yesterday as he arrived in court to be charged with knifing six men.
Ehab Zorgani pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of two men and seriously injuring another four in Paceville early on Sunday morning.
He was remanded in custody. According to sources, an argument broke out at about 4am between Mr Zorgani and two Libyans before he produced a penknife and started slashing at people nearby. He was arrested by officers of the Rapid Intervention Unit after they chased him down the streets of Paceville.
Mr Zorgani has humanitarian protection and lives in Żebbuġ. Arraigned by Inspector Saviour Baldacchino, he is accused of the attempted murder and grievous bodily harm of Libyan Hadji Salah and Dutchman Antoon Van der Heide. The 18-year-old Dutchman was in critical condition and was operated on for a lung injury but his condition improved yesterday.
Mr Zorgani is also charged with grievously injuring Richard Galea, Ali Muhannad Fadlalla, another Libyan, and two more Dutchmen, Brian Jan Bos and De Roo Neik, as well as carrying a knife and breaching the peace.
The police have yet to establish what led to the fight, though sources said the accused is not likely to have known the other Libyans. Tests to determine whether he was drunk when he carried out the attack have yet to be concluded.
The police took Mr Zorgani to hospital for treatment, though he bore no physical signs of injury when he appeared in court. As he was brought in by car, he gave the finger to waiting photographers.
Mr Zorgani repeated the obscene gesture a second time after being asked to lower his handcuffed arms and before being escorted through the entrance.
Magistrate Joe Mifsud said he fully endorsed the message of Malta’s President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Pope Francis of welcoming and assisting refugees.
Malta must be a pioneer in granting protection to refugees escaping strife and persecution, he said. However, the magistrate made it clear that the court would not permit anyone granted protection to commit crimes against the safety of the country or other citizens.
Legal aid lawyer Victor Bugeja did not request bail for his client.
Mr Zorgani emerged from the court room a more subdued man, burying his face in his lap as he was escorted to prison.
The attack provoked a barrage of speculation on social media (see separate story above) that 25 people had been injured, a claim that proved to be untrue. Sources yesterday said five people were admitted to Mater Dei in the immediate aftermath of the attack, while one person checked himself in later.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Party deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami voiced concern over the attack and said that there were not enough police officers in Paceville at the time.
He criticised the government for not giving the police enough resources to work with.
kim.dalli@timesofmalta.com