Two Libyans, Maltese arraigned over early morning robbery in Gzira

Women told they would be burnt alive, throats slit if they called the police

Three young men were arraigned in court yesterday evening over an early morning robbery that took place in Triq il-Gnien, Gzira.

The three robbers, who held two women at knifepoint and threatened to burn their house down, were two Libyans aged 19 and 22 and Maltese, 15, of St Paul’s Bay.

The three were charged with theft, holding two persons against their will, causing slight injuries and of breaching bail conditions. The accused were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty.

The robbery took place at around 3:55am on Thursday when the police was called out to investigate the theft of a car from Triq il-Gnien in Gzira.

The owner of the car, a 41-year-old woman, said that she was on her doorstep when three youths appeared, pushed her inside and threatened her and another woman, aged 68.

The aggressors then took two knives, a mobile phone, €50 in cash and some keys, including the one to the car, which was subsequently stolen.

The Peugeot 306 was later spotted by the Rapid Intervention Unit in Sliema. A car chase ended in St Julians, when the occupants of the car took off on foot. One youth, a 15-year-old from St Paul’s Bay, was apprehended by police.

Further police investigation led to the arraignment of all three suspects.

According to media reports, the women were threatened they would be “burnt alive” and their throats would be slit “like a lamb” if they called the police.

The Times reports that a 41-year-old prostitute was standing at the door waiting for clients when she heard the elderly woman calling her name. The robbers then barged in, demanding cash and drugs. The younger woman told the robbers that they didn’t have any and they proceeded to take anything that they could find.