Police and Civil Protection personnel have not yet managed to establish the cause of the fire. Police told The Malta Independent that there were about 18-20 people inside the building when it caught fire.

The police noticed that smoke was billowing out of a balcony opposite Msida police station, on Rue d’Argens, at about 2.45pm. They immediately called for assistance from the CPD who rushed to the scene.

However, by then the balcony was spewing fire and belching black smoke. CPD personnel extinguished the fire without anyone being hurt. It is understood that the flat was gutted, but the fire did not spread.

A large crowd of onlookers, including the asylum seekers, watched the CPD put out the blaze, while their children – seemingly oblivious to what was going on around them – played a game of tag.

The duty magistrate was informed about the case and appointed a number of experts to assist in an on-site inquiry. Msida District Police are investigating.