It was a cable belonging to a telecommunications services provider that damaged the statue of the Risen Christ in Vittoriosa on Easter Sunday.

“While we can confirm that it did involve one of our cables, the matter is still being investigated,” a spokeswoman for Melita said.

The statue ended up without an arm.

“In the meantime, no matter the outcome of the investigation, however, we will be meeting the Vittoriosa parish representatives to see how we can assist and support with the repairs and restoration of the statue.”

She noted that Melita only learnt through the questions put by the Times of Malta that one of the company’s overhead cables was involved in Sunday’s incident.

“Until then,” she said, “we had never received requests to address low-hanging cables, which have been there for a long time.”

Damage sustained could run into thousands of euros

The Risen Christ statue’s left arm, made of wood, was chopped off at the elbow when it the cable during a traditional run in Triq il-Ħabs l-Antik.

Vittoriosa archpriest Fr Karm Busuttil yesterday filed a report at the local police station.

Claiming the cable in question was hanging too low, he pointed out he did not plan to sue the company but wanted to file the police report for the record.

Fr Busuttil was thankful the incident only resulted in damage to the statue saying somebody could have been hurt. He said he had not yet received an estimate of the damage sustained but in his opinion it could run into thousands of euros.

The statue of the Risen Christ was made by Salvu Psaila in 1833.