Two arrested after escape attempt

Two Tunisian nationals who had planned to cross over to Sicily on a stolen boat had to abandon their plan yesterday after they ran out of petrol on reaching Gozo, police sources said.

The two men are expected to be charged in court shortly.

Police investigations showed that a fibreglass boat was stolen from St Julian's on Saturday night. It belongs to an Italian national living in Malta.

Police sources said that a fisherman reported he had found the fibreglass boat drifting about two miles off Dahlet Qorrot, yesterday morning.

The police immediately started investigating and after towing the boat ashore they found a bag in the boat containing personal belongings. The fuel tank was empty, the sources said.

The two Tunisian nationals in their late 20s were later arrested by the police in the limits of Qala.

During interrogation the two Tunisian nationals admitted they had stolen the boat and that they had planned to cross over to Sicily.

Police Inspector Maurice Curmi is investigating.