Updated 4.20pm

ONE News has published footage of its journalists facing a tirade of threats and intimidation outside court while reporting on the arraignment of four men accused of stealing drugs from an army base.

The footage shows people claiming to be relatives of the accused telling ONE reporters not to capture their faces on camera while threatening the reporters and their relatives. 

"I'm going to take a photo of you, and then if you show my brother I'll f*ck up your entire family," one person claiming to be a family member of one of the accused says.

"Take a video of them," chimes in another.

When one of the journalists tells her colleague to phone the police, one of the family members replies: "We don't give a f*ck about the police", while another can be heard saying: "Don't lie or I'll disfigure you."

Among a continuing tirade of insults and threats, someone can be heard telling the journalist that if she reports on her brother, she will beat her up on camera.

The reporter can be heard telling those making the threats that only she was being filmed, while another journalist off camera insists they are only doing their job.

The incidents took place on Wednesday night in the moments before the arraignment of four men facing charges in connection with the heist of around 200 kilograms of cannabis resin for an army base in Safi.

The four accused are 30-year-old Żebbuġ resident Sean Attard, 23-year-old Carlos Pace from Marsa, 33-year-old Yousef Essesi from St Paul’s Bay and 19-year-old Marsa resident Cleaven Pace.

They all stand accused of carrying out the Saturday night cannabis robbery, criminal association for the purpose of drug trafficking and cannabis possession in circumstances denoting it was not for their personal use.

Carlos Pace also stands accused of having breached the terms of a suspended sentence handed to him in 2023 and bail conditions imposed on him in 2024 in separate criminal cases.

Earlier on Thursday, the threats against journalists reporting on the case were condemned by the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM), which said the incident "reminds us all of the real dangers faced by journalists in their line of duty."

While the organisation thanked police for their “prompt response” and for taking measures to protect journalists at the scene, it “also urges the police to take criminal action against the aggressors.”

The editor of ONE News, Josef Caruana, confirmed to Times of Malta he had filed a police report on Thursday morning.

That afternoon, a fifth man, 23-year-old Liam Steward, was charged with offences in connection with the theft.

PL, PN, Robert Abela, Bernard Grech express solidarity

PL and PN both expressed solidarity with the journalists, while prime minister Robert Abela visited them at their newsroom.

No threats should halt their important work, Abela said in a statement on Facebook.

In a statement, PN leader Bernard Grech also expressed his full solidarity with the ONE journalists.

PN meanwhile "strongly condemned the intimidating behaviour", expressing solidarity with the journalists and the media outlet ONE News.

"PN expects the authorities to take all necessary steps to immediately protect journalists and investigate those responsible for the intimidation, ensuring they are brought to justice.

"The government must promptly publish the White Paper on reforms to strengthen journalism in our country, ensuring that every journalist in Malta and Gozo benefits from the highest level of protection against abuses by those who seek to conceal the truth," the party said.

In a separate statement, the PL said the conduct of the people who threatened the journalists was "condemnable and deplorable".

"The journalists were carrying out their duty... and no reason justifies the aggressive behaviour by this group of people."

The PL also expressed solidarity with Minister Byron Camilleri who was also the target of insults by the same group of people.

"The PL expresses its appreciation for the work of journalists. It also expresses its gratitude to the investigative authorities for their sterling work."