Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said this evening that initial reports suggested that someone had fired on his car.
Dr Mallia was replying to a number of PQs by PN MPs Jason Azzopardi and Francis Zammit Dimech during question time.
The Home Affairs Minister said he could not be held responsible if someone in the police force abused of his right to carry firearms. "If someone had given away a plot of land when you were Lands Minister would you have been responsible?" he told Dr Azzopardi.
Dr Mallia said he was attending an official function at the police HQ in Floriana when the incident occurred. The Police Commissioner was there. Some police officers came to speak to the Police Commissioner and the initial report suggested that someone had opened fire on his government car. He did not follow Mr Zammit to the media office.
The Minister also denied issuing or having known about an order for the Briton's car to be loaded onto a low-loader. He was not consulted prior to the issuing of a press release by the DOI.
"I do not consider this incident as a joke. This was a very unfortunate incident. I feel hurt by what happened. I never wished for this to happen."
He said he had fought injustices carried out by the police in the past. "We used to attend political meetings together," he told Dr Zammit Dimech. "Do not attack my integrity. You are trying to score political points and you want my head on a plate. The PN is not traditionally known for these kind of attacks."
If I felt I was responsible I would have asked the Prime Minister to resign. I am being genuine and I had nothing to do with this case. I will do all I can to prove my integrity."