AFM sources told this newsroom this afternoon they had been put on a state of high alert because of reports of an imminent threat to the country's security but Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela later told a section of the media there was no high alert at all.

The reports, which spread like wildfire all over the island through SMSs and emails, seem to have been occasioned by an internal army decision to upgrade the weapons carried by soldiers.

Minister Abela told the media there is no cause for alarm but the rumours grew and grew even to the point of reports that a ship with Islamic militants was just outside Maltese waters.

The tension has been building up following the attack on the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli earlier this week.

Security had been increased at the airport in December following an increased level of alarm all over Europe. 

According to the minister the latest cause of tension in Malta was occasioned by what the minister said was an internal decision to increase the arming state following a normal procedure.