Two men arrested following Sliema shop and San Ġwann pharmacy hold-ups

Updated 2.37pm with details of arrests

Two men have been arrested in connection with two hold-ups in Sliema and San Ġwann on Wednesday.

Police said two hooded men armed with a knife were involved in both cases.

The first case occurred at about 2am when two men ran off with cash and other items after holding up a cashier at a shop on the Sliema seafront, police said. 

No one was injured.

The second hold-up happened at 11.30am at Triq Riħan San Ġwann.

People in the area said the target this time was a pharmacy and a knife was dropped as the thieves ran out. 

In a statement, the police said that after robbing the pharmacy, the two men made their getaway with the stolen cash in a red Toyota Ractis.

Further investigations revealed the same vehicle was used for the Sliema robbery.

Moments after the robbery, during the police search, the police were made aware of a similar vehicle driving around in Ħamrun. The car was located in Triq Mountbatten, where the driver, a 42-year-old Maltese man, who is a Birżebbuġa resident, was arrested.

Further investigations led to the arrest of the second alleged thief, a 37-year-old Libyan, a Sliema resident. He was arrested at his residence.

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud is holding an inquiry. Police investigations are underway.

The police found the red Toyota Ractis, used for the robbers to make their escape, in Triq Mountbatten, in Ħamrun. Photo: Malta Police Force