Updated 1.48 pm

Two men had to be treated in hospital for stab and head injuries after a fight near a police station in Ħamrun involving up to 25 people.

Police deployed the Rapid Intervention Unit as the incident unfolded in St Joseph High Road and Fra Diegu Square, on Thursday morning. 

Officers were called to the scene at around 12.30pm.

Two men are being treated in hospital, one with stab wounds to the leg and another who is understood to have been struck on the head with a piece of wood.

It initially started with an argument between two Syrian men and grew into a fight involving some 25 people, according to witnesses. 

Video on social media showed shoppers fleeing as men fought each other, swinging long pieces of wood. Other witnesses said knives were involved. 

One man was seen holding a bin aloft while another used a shop advertising placard as a shield. District police struggled to hold some men back until the RIU officers arrived.

'They had knives'

A worker in the Best Kebab food outlet told Times of Malta that he was working with a colleague when a group of men came over and started attacking the co-worker. 

“Then friends of the attackers came and they had knives and suddenly there were a lot of people,” he said.

The worker said such incidents have become a common occurrence and so he has become used to it.

Police outside Best Kebab, where the fight broke out. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Traffic was diverted until calm was restored. 

A police spokesman said two men had been injured, one having apparently been struck on the head with a piece of wood, while the other had a stab wound on one of his legs. Both are to be questioned by the police.

Eyewitnesses were also being questioned at the police station.

Wooden handles, left, and shop signs were used in the brawl. Photo: Claire Farrugia

The situation was brought under control by 12.50pm when the road was reopened for traffic. 

A shopowner at the scene said there was blood on the street but that there had been no damage to shops. 

‘Hamrun deserves much better’

Reacting, Ħamrun mayor Christian Sammut said he is “very worried” as this was not the first time such a fight had taken place in the locality. 

“It starts off with an argument and it ends up with large groups fighting and putting themselves and those around them in great danger. It is unacceptable that there is such fighting and that there are so few police officers who are then put in danger,” Sammut said. 

The Labour mayor said “such gangs” should not be allowed to grow and called for more police officers on the streets and patrolling the squares. 

“They should also monitor those outlets that stay open until late with large groups of people in them. We are doing a lot of work and it is not fair that our efforts go down the drain because of incidents where foreigners do not respect us,” Sammut said. 

“Ħamrun deserves much better,” he said. 

PN MP Mario De Marco, who also hails from the locality, said Thursday’s fight confirms that not enough is being done to address public order issues. 

“The authorities need to identify the source, understand what needs to be done and how to prevent such fights and then ensure there is a strong police presence,” De Marco said. 

De Marco said that there is still a lack of police presence in areas that are known to be problematic. The issue will not be resolved until the police presence is stepped up, he said.