The police have launched a nationwide search for two men believed to have attacked a man in his bed early yesterday morning, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

The police were informed of the incident shortly after 4am, when they received a call for assistance in a ground-floor apartment in Triq Misraħ Dorell in Santa Luċija, according to sources.

The 59-year-old victim's flatmate found him in a pool of blood on the bedroom floor when he arrived home. The victim told the police it was at around 11pm on Thursday when two men entered his apartment and stabbed him.

He was in bed at the time of the attack. Nothing was found missing from the flat.

He was stabbed in the neck and abdomen and also had stab wounds in his hands, indicating he had tried to protect himself.

The assailants, who the victim said were male, are believed to have entered through the bedroom door, which leads to the front patio and the street.

Police sources said the victim did not know his attackers.

Sources said the attack is being treated as an attempted murder.

Duty Magistrate Marseann Farrugia ordered an inquiry. Police investigations are under way.