Two police officers were trapped inside the yard of a St Julian's residence for around 20 minutes during Friday's shooting siege, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà revealed, as he disclosed fresh details about the operation that ended with the arrest of two brothers, aged 74 and 68.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà on Friday provided a detailed chronology of the St Julian's shooting incident, which left an officer fighting for his life and another slightly injured.

Gafa described how what began as an investigation into suspected arson escalated into an armed siege that lasted more than two hours.

The incident began at around 10.40am, when police received a report of a fire that had apparently been started deliberately at a construction site. Civil Protection Department firefighters extinguished the blaze, while police launched an investigation.

Initial investigations indicated that the suspected arson involved two men following an ongoing dispute over construction works taking place adjacent to the residence of one of the suspects.

Police soon located and arrested a 68-year-old man from San Ġwann in Birkirkara Hill. Officers then proceeded to the nearby residence of his 74-year-old brother, from St Julian's, who is alleged to have also been involved in the arson.

Officers ordered the man to come outside. Instead, he ignored their instructions as officers made repeated attempts to persuade him to surrender peacefully. Instead, the man challenged police to enter the property.

Two members of the Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) attempted to enter but were immediately met with gunfire. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck by shotgun pellets. Police returned fire and, during the exchanges that followed, discharged a total of 12 rounds.

The commissioner said the officers who entered the property became trapped inside the yard, where they remained for around 20 minutes while the suspect refused to surrender.

A Special Intervention Unit (SIU) team was called in to assist, while police negotiators also rushed to the scene.

The first negotiator arrived at around 11.30am, followed shortly afterwards by a second. However, the suspect's mobile phone had been switched off, forcing negotiators to communicate using a megaphone.

Police repeatedly informed the man that the property was surrounded and urged him to surrender or establish another means of communication. Despite the repeated calls, he refused to respond.

At around noon, SIU officers equipped with full protective gear and ballistic shields attempted to enter the yard to rescue their trapped colleagues.

As they advanced, the suspect allegedly fired another shot from what police believe was a hunting shotgun, striking an SIU officer in the face and neck.

The seriously injured officer was immediately treated by medical teams before being rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He remains in the Intensive Therapy Unit and is still in danger of dying, the commissioner said.

The other officer sustained superficial injuries to his hand and leg and was later discharged from hospital.

Negotiations continued and, after more than 90 minutes of contact attempts, police managed to rescue the two trapped officers and arrest the 74-year-old suspect without further injuries.

Police are still processing four licensed hunting shotguns recovered from the residence. One is believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, while investigators also recovered two spent shotgun cartridges.

Gafà said the apparent motive for the incident was the ongoing construction works taking place adjacent to the suspect's residence.

He stressed that, despite the seriousness of the incident, Malta remains one of the safest countries in the world and described the shooting as an isolated case.

The commissioner thanked all those involved in the operation, including officers from the RIU, SIU and district police, as well as the Civil Protection Department, the Armed Forces of Malta, Transport Malta, paramedics and Mater Dei Hospital staff.

Describing policing as an inherently dangerous profession, Gafà also acknowledged the emotional toll the incident has had on the officers involved and their families, saying support is being provided.

The two suspects are expected to be arraigned in court within the 48-hour time limit established by law.