Imperium Ewropa leader Norman Lowell filed a libel suit in court yesterday against MaltaToday editor Saviour Balzan and journalists Kurt Sansone and Matthew Vella over three separate articles published in the newspaper on 14 May.

Mr Lowell felt that two articles, entitled Arsonists attack Daphne (Caruana Galizia) on same night Norman Lowell organises BBQ and Lowell’s neo-nazis hit out at press after arson attack, and an editorial headed Get the bastards now, before it is too late are libellous and defamatory and were aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

Mr Lowell filed the libel suit in his personal capacity and also as leader of the organisation Imperium Ewropa.

Along with the official letter of complaint, Mr Lowell also filed a 22-page detailed affidavit in which he explains, using a mix of Maltese, English and Italian, his grievances about the articles and why they are, according to him, a “coordinated, strategic and orchestrated” effort to undermine his reputation.

Mr Lowell said the articles appearing on pages one, five and six of the newspaper’s 14 May edition, contained false allegations that linked him to the arson attack on columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s house in May.

Explaining why he had waited five months before filing the libel suit, Mr Lowell said he is a “tolerant person” and could not defend the principle of freedom of expression and the right to an opinion if he does not tolerate other peoples’ opinions. However, he said, in view of what has been said about him, and in view of the consequences these articles have had on him, he decided to sue the paper for libel.

Mr Lowell said the contents of the article are “serious and dangerous”, and added that he was demanding the maximum amount of damages permissible by law, especially because of the serious consequences these articles had on his life.