[WATCH] Two arrested following violent Bugibba square brawl

Tables, chairs and bollards were thrown in a violent brawl between two men yesterday evening that broke out at the popular Bugibba square.

The fight led to the arrest of two Syrian nationals, aged 25 and 41, who needed to be treated for minor injuries sustained.

A video taken by bystanders and posted on social media shows the pair arguing and manhandling each other. The video shows some men trying to break up the fight, whilst others seem to have wanted to join it.

The video shows persons getting up and leaving their tables as the fight intensified, whilst other stood in the background, at a safe distance, filming with their phone.

Some could be heard complaining that this was not the first time that such an incident was reported in the area, a favourite summer destination for tourists.

The police confirmed that it had been informed of the fight at around 7.35pm and that the two men were taken to the Mosta health centre, and then to Mater Dei Hospital, before being arrested.

MHRA ‘greatly concerned’ over time of police response

While noting the “unacceptable” behaviour of those involved in the fight, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) said it was “greatly concerned about the time it took for police to arrive at the scene, warning that Malta could lose its status as an ‘absolutely safe destination’.

“The MHRA believes that there should be round the clock police presence and real time CCTV surveillance systems, in strategic areas to assist the Police to respond rapidly and deal with similar situations within a matter of minutes,” it said in a statement.

MHRA called on all the authorities to take action immediately against the perpetrators involved in the brawl. The association also urged the authorities to avoid “the long delays in court” in deciding who is responsible.