Updated | Govt slams ‘sensationalist reports’ that cause unnecessary alarm

The Maltese government has denied reports by PN media il-mument that the Malta Security Service and the Police force were investigating an alleged carcade organised by Islamic State supporters in Malta.

It also denied that the police or any other authority received such a report.

“Similar sensationalists reports which are not verified before publication are only intended to cause alarm,” the government added.

Il-Mument today said that there is a “strong possibility” that there are followers of the Islamic State in Malta.

According to the PN newspaper, the Malta Security Service and the Immigration Police “are following foreigners’ maneuvers” following an alleged carcade that took place in Sliema.

Expressing surprise at the news article, a government spokesman added that no such reports were lodged with the authorities during the last two months, raising doubts as to the veracity of the article.

The incident allegedly occurred in the first week of July, during a period in which the streets of Sliema are constantly patrolled by the police as the locality celebrates Our Lady of Sacred Heart. The feast is celebrated on the first Sunday of July.

Two unnamed couples told the newspaper that late at night on 4 July, they witnessed a “carcade” of around 13 vehicles in the vicinity of Torri in Sliema. The men inside these cars, il-mument reported, honked their horns and waved black flags and handkerchiefs out of the window.

The Islamic State have adopted a black flag bearing the words ‘There is no god but God, Muhammed is the prophet of God’.

At some point, a number of women wearing ‘long dresses and veils’ cheered the carcaders as they drove by them. Il-Mument said that both the men in the cars and the women cheering them spoke in Arabic.

Historian Henry Frendo told il-Mument that he was “immensely surprised” that the local media houses hadn’t reported this story when it emerged.

“Perhaps its because of the fear that reigns supreme in such a small society as ours?” Frendo questioned. “We need to stop these things in their infancy before they can grow.”

“We are talking about one of the worst terrorist movements the world has ever seen,” Frendo added. “The implications are that ISIS have an operating branch in Malta and that they think they can do what they want.”

The Islamic State group has declared a ‘caliphate’ across swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, tearing down border fences between the two countries. The United States and its allies have struck several Islamic State targets and the group responded by beheading three Western captives and warning of an attack on Western countries.