A teenager who was had his leg broken in an assault in Valletta last Saturday needs to undergo two operations, a Nationalist MP said in Parliament on Monday.

The teenager, named by PN MP Graham Bencini in parliament, suffered the injury when he was attacked by older boys in Merchant Street.

The fight took place in Merchants Street at 10pm, a police statement read. The other three boys suffered less grievous injuries and were taken to the nearest health centre for assistance.

Bencini explained that the boy needs to have a rod placed in his leg, which was broken from two points, in order to facilitate the healing, after which another operation is going to be needed for the same equipment to be removed once the bone sets.

Additionally one of the other boys had also had his ankle injured and thus cannot basketball for the time being.

The MP, who has spoken directly to the parents of the victims, said that the four teenage boys had gone to Valletta, for a burger to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

The four minors were attacked by a group of older youths, who dispersed before the police arrived.

In a statement given by the parents, they explained how while walking in Merchants Street, the boys heard someone behind them call – they looked back and seeing nobody they knew, continued walking, but the ‘person’ said “look at me when I’m speaking to you” then the four were attacked violently.

"My son was thrown to the floor and kicked repeatedly in the head and ribs as were the others but luckily, three of them got off relatively unhurt," one parent said.

The fourth young teen, however, had his leg broken and had to be taken by ambulance to hospital where this morning he underwent surgery, the parent said.

Bencini, who was speaking during the adjournment, said that nowadays youths cannot go out like “we used to do in our days”, as it is not safe anymore.