An impromptu protest was called this morning, as a message was circulated on social media calling for people to attend a 'flash strike' at 12.45pm.
The protesters, made up of students, university lecturers and other people gathered at the University, moved towards skatepark and organised a sit down protest in the middle of the road, thus closing off the university roundabout. The protesters then walked down the road towards the Kappara junction, where they blocked both sides. Police were present to control traffic. A number of drivers got out of their cars to challenge the protesters. Protesters also sang the national anthem.
The protesters chanted 'Mafia', 'assassins' and other slogans including 'justice' in light of yesterday's events. The protest lasted around 30 minutes.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Cabinet unanimously decided not to recommend that Yorgen Fenech receive a pardon in the very early hours of the morning. Fenech is out on police bail, in relation to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Yesterday, Keith Schembri was also released from arrest. Fenech is arguing that he wants a pardon to reveal information about Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and Chris Cardona.
After a 6 and a half hour Cabinet session, that saw protesters try to enter Castille, the Prime Minister called a press conference at around 2.40am on Friday.
As the night wore on, tensions ran high. Protesters that were in Castille Square began arguing with the police at around 1.20am, as the police began pushing back barricades they had placed earlier even further.
Another pardon request was made by Fenech directly to the President of Malta George Vella.
Photos and Videos by Karl Azzopardi and Mike Camilleri