An 18-year-old Eritrean had to be tasered after he threatened police officers with a hammer.

The case took place inside a residence in Telgħa tal-Giżwiti in Marsa after the owners reported a break-in. The police received the report at around 2.30am on Monday.

Officers found the man in the yard and ordered him to surrender. The man disobeyed their orders and picked up a hammer and threatened the officers with it, the police said. When he approached the officers, he was tasered and brought under control.

He was later taken to the police lock-up in Floriana, where he was found to be in possession of suspected cannabis. The man tried to harm himself inside the cell but was stopped from doing so. He was later taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Police investigations are ongoing.