Council official threatened

The executive secretary of the Floriana local council, Kenneth Brincat, was threatened and insulted by a man who stormed into the council offices and had to be removed by the police.

Mr Brincat told The Times that on Tuesday afternoon he was sitting in his office when a contractor's foreman called to make a complain.

Mr Brincat said the man began shouting and also threatened and insulted him. Mr Brincat said a Floriana resident who happened to be at the council offices was also shouted at and insulted when he tried to calm the foreman down.

The police were called and removed the foreman from the building.

Both Mr Brincat and the resident have filed a police report about the incident.

Floriana mayor John Mary Brincat condemned the incident saying the council could not tolerate such behaviour.

The council, the mayor said, was suggesting the government considers harsher penalties for people who hurl abuse at officials.