The long list of arson attempts against people who have openly declared themselves to be against racism and who have criticised those they perceived to have racist sentiments with regard to the illegal immigrants, reached its highest point so far yesterday with the attempt to burn down the residence of The Malta Independent on Sunday columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia and harm, and quite possibly burn, the members of her family.

The attempt, which took place at around 3.00am, did not succeed for reasons beyond the attackers’ intentions, and because the flames were put out by the Caruana Galizia family.

It has been condemned by a quite noticeable swathe of people and organisations, from the Prime Minister to Dr Gavin Gulia and Alternattiva, and from the two organisations that represent journalists.

In a statement issued in the afternoon, Ms Caruana Galizia pointed out that this “was not an attempt at burning a door, but an attempt at burning the house.

“Five large car tyres packed with bottles of petrol were piled against the back of our house and set alight. The tyres were concentrated against a glass door, behind which there were several carpets, floor cushions and sofas.

“The idea was that the glass would shatter immediately, under the heat of five tyres burning with petrol, and the flames would then spread into the house while we were asleep.

“However, the doors are not made

of wood and plain glass, but of fire-retardant PVC with strong double-glazing. They withstood the fire until it was brought under control, shattering partially only at the last minute. Because of the insulation system which seals the doors completely, no burning petrol seeped beneath them and into the house.

“The persons who did this approached our house not from the road and the front entrance, but through the valley behind the house, climbing over several terraced fields, probably after having left their car parked on a rough service road in the valley.

“They made the trek carrying the five petrol-loaded tyres and further supplies of petrol in jerrycans and bottles. This means that there must have been at least three persons.

“These persons planned their attack for Friday night on the understanding that we would all be out and there would be nobody in to control the fire.

“My husband and I, and our two youngest sons, aged 18 and 17, were out, but very unusually, our eldest son, aged 20, decided to stay at home to work on a project for which he had a deadline.

“My husband and I returned home at 1.30am, and found our eldest son still working. Our bedroom lights are clearly visible from the valley, where these people were waiting. We put out our light at 2am and our son put out his light at 2.30am.

“Just before 3am, we were woken by our youngest son, Paul, shouting that the back of the house was on fire. While my husband rushed for the garden-hose, Paul grabbed a shovel and began to throw earth onto the flames. Between them they put the fire out. Meanwhile, I moved the carpets and furniture away from the doors to create a non-flammable space, and phoned the police.

“The people who committed this act of violence planned it with precision.

“So as to find out how to get to the house through the valley, they would have had to come here on previous occasions to work out the best route.

“In the words of one investigating official, it was planned ‘like a military operation’. He also said that in 25 years of investigating arson attacks, he had never seen such a great supply of fuel used in a single act of arson.”

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Unanimous condemnation

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi

In a statement on behalf of the government and people of Malta but which does not carry a specific reference to yesterday’s arson attack, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi condemned what he called ‘intimidatory attacks’ on journalists and people working with the immigrants.

He also committed the forces of law and order to do their best to find out the perpetrators and the government’s determination to build a society based on tolerance.

Gavin Gulia

Labour spokesman Gavin Gulia unreservedly condemned the attack on Ms Caruana Galizia and appealed to the Commissioner of Police to investigate the cases and prosecute the perpetrators.

Alternattiva Demokratika

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that the attack on a journalist’s home has an additional menace beyond that suffered by society in any one of the spate of arson attacks in recent months. “If the press is not free, none of us are free.’ Dr Vassallo said. “Our adversarial, frequent and often heated exchanges with Ms Caruana Galizia in the media are no bar to our sincere expression of solidarity with her and her family in this instance. The terrorists have the effect of joining together all those with the least regard for decency. They are our common enemies and serve to remind us of basic common values which we may have taken for granted and failed to guard with sufficient care so far.” Dr Vassallo said

Chamber of Advocates

The Chamber of Advocates condemned the attack on the residence of lawyer Dr Peter Caruana Galizia.

Journalists’ Committee

In the wake of the latest arson attack this morning, this time targeting columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s residence, journalists, editors and columnists are invited to attend for the presentation of a letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi today at noon at Castille calling for the protection of journalists and freedom of expression. The attack on Caruana Galizia’s house comes days after another arson attack on the residence of editor Saviour Balzan. The journalists will be presenting a letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi calling for the immediate protection of journalists and their families.

Institute of Maltese Journalists

The Institute of Maltese Journalists also condemned the arson attack and said it will not shut journalists up. On the contrary this and the attack on the house of Saviour Balzan will only strengthen the journalists’ determination to continue reporting without fear or favour.