A 19-year-old resident from Żabbar was arrested after attacking police during a beach inspection in connection with violations of Covid-19 regulations, police said.

Yesterday, at around 6.30pm, Police from the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) were carrying out inspections in the area of ​​Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, where they noticed a group of six people gathered next to each other on the beach, and explained to them that they could not be in a group of more than two people.

Two Police officers spoke to the people involved who cooperated with the Police, while a 19-year-old refused to provide his details and disobeyed orders given to him not to stay in a group.

After a while, the young man grabbed a towel that was filled with sand and flicked it in the direction of the police, TVM said. One of officers was hit in the face, with the consequence that the police ended up with sand in his eyes. After going to a Health Centre for treatment, he was referred to Mater Dei Hospital for further medical assistance, where he was later certified to have suffered minor injuries, the police statement read.

The young man was taken to the Qawra Police Station where investigations are still ongoing.