Three men were yesterday arrested in connection with the robbery that took place at the Park of Friendship on 1 October, police said. The three men are aged 20, 24 and 30 and are all of Maltese nationality.

On the night of the robbery, various animals had been stolen and a deer had been found dead.

Fund Raising manager Gordon Pace had told The Malta Independent that the thieves probably tried to steal the animal and injured it in the process.

“We have valued the stolen animals at about Lm1,300, but it's not the money factor at stake here. Those animals are specially trained for therapeutic purposes. They were not there for show, they were there to allow disabled children to experience a little bit of joy in petting them,” Mr Pace said on the day following the robbery.

The police did not say whether any of the stolen animals have been found.

The three men are to be arraigned soon. Police investigations are still under way.