A number of stone balustrades on the staircase leading down to the Saluting Battery, at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, were found topped over this morning, in a suspected vandalism attack.

The Saluting Battery is run by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - a heritage NGO.

FWA chairman Mario Farrugia said in a Facebook post that the balustrades, located behind Lord Strickland's monument, were in good condition before the incident "which suggests that this was yet another case of senseless vandalism."

The said stairs are very often target of vandalism especially during the time when the Saluting Battery is closed to visitors, Farrugia said.

"It is indeed a shame that while the dedicated staff and volunteers of FWA spend a lot of time and energy to conserve our cultural heritage, you still get modern day troglodytes who are hell-bent to undo all the good work."

FWA has requested the responsible authorities to be allowed to take steps to stop this from repeating itself in the future.