The video of a man performing lewd acts in public was filmed five years ago, police have told The Malta Independent.

Police started investigating the video after it appeared on the social media on Thursday, quickly going viral.

The police, answering questions sent from The Malta Independent, stated that a report was received at Paola Police Station on 9 January.

The video features a man performing ewd acts while sitting on a bench with people commenting in the background.

The video is undated, but the police confirmed that it was taken five years ago.

The investigation continues, although the circumstances have changed once the time it was filmed was identified.