Two girls, 12 and 15, injured with knife; man arrested
43-year-old aggressor flees the scene, arrested in Cospicua
Four teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, were yesterday charged with their involvement in a series of muggings of cab drivers.
Two 14-year-old boys from Marsascala and Cospicua, a 16-year-old from Żabbar and a 17-year-old from Senglea were charged with four muggings that took place last week.
The first one took place on March 5 in Żabbar when an Uber driver was mugged. The robbers made off with cash and other items with a total value of between €200 and €2,300.
Two days later, the gang struck again with muggings in Marsascala, Żabbar and Cospicua targeting cab drivers working for eCabs, Bolt and Wolt. In each of the incidents, they stole cash, mobiles and other equipment, not exceeding €2,300 each.
The 17-year-old alone was further charged with relapsing. A 14-year-old was alone charged with breaching a probation order handed down in January this year by the Juvenile Court. The rest of the all-boy group denied the charges and were remanded in custody. They will be kept in preventive arrest at the YOURS facility for young offenders in Rabat.
Lawyers Manuel Grech from the Office of the Attorney General, Police Inspectors Antonello Magri and Gabriel Kitcher prosecuted.
Lawyers Roberto Spiteri, Lucio Sciriha and Frank Tabone appeared for the accused whose names cannot be published as they are minors.
Two girls, aged 12 and 15, were injured yesterday after a 43-year-old man allegedly came at them with a knife.
Police confirmed the incident with Times of Malta and said it had happened at around 1.30pm in Triq San Tumas, Marsa.
Investigations revealed that a man had been arguing with the two girls, as well as with a 14-yearold boy in a Marsa home.
The argument continued to escalate which is when the man allegedly brandished a knife at the teens.
The girls were injured in an altercation and had to be taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment.
The 12-year-old girl has been certified as having suffered serious injuries while the condition of the 15-year-old has not yet been determined.
The 14-year-old boy was not injured but was treated for shock.
The man fled from the site before the police arrived on the scene but was arrested shortly afterwards in Cospicua. He was identified as a 43-year-old man who lives in Cospicua.
Police believe the suspect, a Maltese national, was connected to the victims and was previously arrested.
Magistrate Victor George Axiak has opened an inquiry.