The Pride flag that the Balzan local council raised near the council’s offices was burnt during the night, deputy mayor Angelo Micallef said.

Writing on Facebook, Micallef said that the matter will be reported to the police.

“It is shameful that in this day and age a simple symbol gesture meant to send a message against discrimination still generates such hateful acts,” he wrote.

“As Deputy Mayor I express my disgust at this act and hope that those responsible are caught. This act was not only violent and disgusting in its intent but also dangerous given that the area is surrounded by trees.”

The gesture was also condemned by Equality Minister Edward Zammit Lewis.

"I condemn it absolutely," he told The Malta Independent. "It is a locality that I live close to as I live in Lija.  It is part of our programme to speak with the commissioner for police and the police, where we made advances in hate crime and hate speech.  We condemn such acts. The laws we implemented were important, but a lot more needs to be done to progress and change the mentality in the country.”