Four migrants who had escaped from detention centres were arrested after they were found living in a residence in Hamrun, the police said.

The arrests took place on Sunday afternoon.

Officers from the Valletta and Hamrun districts, the Rapid Intervention Unit and the Immigration Section surrounded a house in Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud after receiving reports that the migrants were hiding inside. The four men – three Morocans and an Algerian – tried to escape from the roof but were immediately apprehended.

They were arraigned on Monday afternoon and were charged with having escaped from a detention centre. Two of them were further charged with disturbing the peace and being drunk in public. The men pleaded not guilty but did not request bail.

The prosecution was led by Inspectors Michael Vella and Doriette Cuschieri.