A police report said that a Mazda 323, driven by a 62-year-old man from Naxxar, was on its way to Ta’ Qali when it was involved in a collision with an Opel Astra, which was being driven in the opposite direction by a 31-year-old Syrian man.

Two other Syrians, aged 24 and 28, were also in the car.

The Syrians were kept in hospital after suffering serious injuries; the Maltese driver was sent home after treatment.