The Alleanza Nazzjonali Repubblikana has strongly condemned the recent spate of arson attacks that has targeted the homes of journalists.

The alliance said it considered these incidents to be a clear escalation of the initial attacks which started off a few weeks ago with the torching of cars in various localities.

“The situation is particularly worrying when one observes that the pattern is showing an escalation in the level of the crime itself. It is bad enough when people’s property is vandalised, but the psychological effect on the victim is dramatically higher when his or her home is attacked rather than when ‘just’ a car is burnt,” said ANR spokesman Martin Degiorgio in a statement.

He said that when an attack occurs on the home, the whole family is threatened and the sense of concern of the parents for their children is immeasurable and can have devastating effects. In addition, arson attacks of this kind can very well be life-threatening, and this aspect is what makes the crime more serious and so hideous, he added.

“The ANR hopes that these criminals are apprehended as soon as possible, but we are not sure that this will happen, at least in the short term, and that is why we cannot just sit back, relax, and wait for our security forces to sort out the problem,” said Mr Degiorgio.

If “home-grown terrorists” receive some sort of tacit support from even a small fraction of society, he said, they will feel that their actions are actually being “legitimised”.

“This is why the Maltese population has to unite in an unequivocal condemnation of these acts. It is not just a question of writing a few articles in newspapers, or issuing press releases of condemnation. The clear sense of disgust for these actions has to be conveyed through all sections of society, in every street, workplace and household,” said Mr Degiorgio.

He said the terrorists must feel that their actions have no support and that they are totally isolated.

“Their actions against journalists are an obvious attempt to undermine press freedom and thus undermine our very democracy. We have to be united in our defence of the rule of law in this country, as this is the most effective way of defeating homegrown terrorism before it is too late,” said Mr Degiorgio.