Yana Mintoff, daughter of former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, and her son last night were injured when they were attacked with a knife in what seems to have been a domestic argument.

In a statement issued at 10.30am, the police said that at 10.10pm it had been informed that two people had sought medical assistance at the Paola health centre.

Officers went there to investigate and it resulted that a 65-year-old woman and her son, aged 32, both resident at Tarxien, were suffering from stab wounds. The police did not give the names of the injured.

The police said that while the two were in their residence, an argument arose between the woman and a 39-year-old Romanian, who also lives in the same residence. The police said the man attacked the woman with a knife. The woman's son intervened, and he was injured. The mother and son were taken to Mater Dei Hospital for further treatment.

The police said that they went to the residence where the aggression had taken place, noticing that a fire had been started inside. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called in to put out the blaze.

The police later discovered that the man involved in the argument had been hiding in a tree in the vicinity. He had also been injured and his clithes were bloodied. He was taken to hospital where he was found to have suffered grievous injuries.

The mother and her son suffered slight injuries, the police said.

Ms Mintoff is believed to have suffered stab wounds in her chest while her son was hit in the thigh.

An inquiry is being held.