Another five men yesterday appeared in court in connection with violence which took place on Wednesday during the chaotic public transport strike.

This brings the total number of people charged up to 17. Four of the men arraigned yesterday were arrested after scuffles broke out in Marsa on the morning, while another man was charged in connection with an attack on a coach at St Dorothy’s School in Zebbug.

The four involved in the Marsa incidents were mini bus drivers are Vincent Spiteri, 48, from Qormi, Jason Desira, 35, from Zejtun, Aaron Zahra, 27, from Qormi and Sean Tabone, 25, from Marsa. They were charged with congregating with intent of committing a crime and stopping a coach, detaining the driver against his will.

Desira was also charged with damaging a vehicle at Pinto Wharf on Monday, detaining a person against his will and common assault.

Tabone was charged with committing a crime while under the operative period of a suspended prison sentence.

Anthony Zerafa, 45, a bus driver from Santa Venera, was accused of slightly injuring a coach driver in Zebbug, keeping him against his will and threatening him and a number of students who were in the coach.

All the accused pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody. It is understood that the police are still interviewing people and investigating, with more charges expected to be filed in the coming days.

The police are also considering issuing fines to public transport operators for traffic infringements they committed since the strike action started on Monday. Sources said that any contraventions committed over the past days are being investigated and possibly there will be more arraignments shortly.