Malta – Eye on Islamism

Man facing terrorism charges was trained in use of explosives, poisonous substances MaltaToday is informed over one terabyte of material related to terrorism was discovered on the accused’s device

August 7, 2024 Matthew Agius

(Malta Today) A 22-year-old Syrian man, residing in Birżebbuġa, was remanded in custody on Wednesday, on terrorism-related charges. The court issued a publication ban on the man’s name, requested by the prosecution at this stage in order to prevent jeopardising ongoing investigations […]

First of group of seven facing terrorism-related charges gets bail They had been arraigned following an anti-terrorism operation in cooperation with Europol

March 13, 2024 Edwina Brincat

(Times of Malta) One of a group of seven Syrian men arrested last April over suspicious jihadist activity on social media has been granted bail after spending 10 months in preventive custody. Ajil Al Muhsen, 21, was arraigned last year alongside six […]

Terrorism investigation leads to human smuggling arraignment Man tried going to Germany with two passports

March 10, 2024 Matthew Xuereb

(Times of Malta) A man who was arrested by the police on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities has been charged in court with trying to help someone enter Malta illegally. Magistrate Noel Bartolo heard police inspector Zachary Zammit explain how Syrian […]

MSS vigilant on radicalisation of youths despite low terror threat on Malta Malta registered a low threat of terror in 2022, but Malta Security Services says prevention of online radicalisation needs to be at the forefront of its terrorism preparedness

January 9, 2024 Matthew Vella

(Malta Today) Malta’s secret service, the MSS, said that while terrorism prevention is at the top of its agenda, its workload has been characterised by investigations against drug trafficking and illegal migration, as well as cyber-threats to critical infrastructure. Malta registered a […]

Court decrees Syrian men accused of terrorism offences have a case to answer, clearing way for trial Court clears way for the indictment of two Syrian nationals on terrorism-related offences, decreeing that there was a case to answer

November 17, 2023 Matthew Agius

(Malta Today) A court has cleared the way for the indictment of two Syrian nationals on terrorism-related offences, decreeing that there was a case to answer. Farhan Mohammed Sheikh, 29, and 23-year-old Abdullah Aliwi, both from Homs in Syria, are accused of […]

Plasterer used shadow finance system to move millions, terrorism case told Man known as 'the banker' used hawala to send money to countries

November 1, 2023 Matthew Xuereb

(Times of Malta) A Syrian man arrested following a magisterial inquiry into reports of terrorism-related activity in Malta transferred some €2.5 million to 13 countries in two years, an investigation has revealed. A money laundering inspector testified that the transfers were multi-national, […]

Three more men in court following inquiry into terrorism activity in Malta Seven Syrians had been arraigned over sharing of terrorist-related material

October 20, 2023 Edwina Brincat

(Times of Malta) Three Syrian men, tracked down following a magisterial inquiry into reports of terrorism-related activity, were on Friday charged with money laundering, involvement in a criminal organisation and sharing of terrorist material. One of the men, who faced the lesser […]

Men facing terrorism charges possessed videos showing ‘macabre executions’ Videos and images extracted from the mobile phones of men charged with terrorism were of executions and beheadings

October 5, 2023 Matthew Agius

(Malta Today) Mobile phones belonging to men accused of terrorism-related charges contained over 100 videos containing flags of the terrorist group known as the Islamic State or Daesh, some showing macabre executions, a court has been told today. A police sergeant from […]

Syrians facing terrorism charges claim breach of right to a fair hearing Their arrest has not been reviewed fortnightly

August 16, 2023 Edwina Brincat

(Times of Malta) Seven Syrian men, in preventive custody since their arraignment in May over suspicious jihadist activity on social media, are claiming a breach of their right to a fair hearing since their continued arrest was not reviewed fortnightly in terms […]

Bomb-making instructions found on arrested men’s phones, court hears Footage linked to the Isis terrorist group also found

May 18, 2023 Jessica Arena

(Times of Malta) Investigators found bomb-making instructions on the phones of five men who were among seven arrested last month over suspicious jihadist social media activity, a court heard on Thursday. They included pictures and diagrams explaining how a variety of bombs […]

Jihadist propaganda was shared by men facing terrorism charges Investigators say the seven defendants attended a breakaway mosque in Sta Venera and had shared Islamic extremist materials on Instagram and TikTok

May 15, 2023 Matthew Agius

(Malta Today) The compilation of evidence against the seven men arrested in April on terrorism-related charges began before Magistrate Nadine Lia on Monday. Ajil Al Muhsen (21), Adnan Maashi (21), Yazan Abduklaziz (26), Ahmed Kadas (25), Khalil Al Mahmoud (21), Ahmed Ahmed […]

Doubts on terror charges against Syrian youths The attorney general’s decision to file terrorism charges against a group of seven young people from Syria described as an over-reaction by sources within the police force

May 8, 2023 Karl Azzopardi

(Malta Today) The attorney general’s decision to file terrorism charges against a group of seven young people from Syria [has] been described as an over-reaction by sources within the police force. They told MaltaToday that the youths arrested last week in an […]

Seven Syrian youths charged in court in connection with terrorism

April 30, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Malta Independent) Seven young Syrian men were arraigned in court on Sunday evening on charges related to terrorism. The young men are aged between 21 and 27. They are Ajil Al Muhsen, Adnan Maashi, Yazan Abduklaziz, Ahmed Kadas, Khalil Al Mahmoud, Ahmed […]

Mediterranean countries push for EU solidarity on migration

March 4, 2023 Kevin Schembri Orland

(AP) Less than a week after a deadly migrant shipwreck off Italy, five European Union countries on the Mediterranean Sea pushed back Saturday against their northern neighbors for not accepting asylum-seekers under a voluntary relocation initiative. The ministers responsible for migration policy […]

4 EU members say they can’t take so many migrant arrivals

November 12, 2022 Demetris Nellas and Colleen Barry

(AP) Four Mediterranean European Union nations have issued a joint statement on a dispute over a deal for Europe to jointly help asylum-seekers. In their statement Saturday, Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus repeated their positions that they “cannot subscribe to the notion […]

EU nations: Migrant departures should be stopped abroad

October 8, 2022 Menelaos Hadjicostis

(AP) Several Mediterranean nations said Saturday the European Union’s border agency Frontex needs to work inside third countries to stop smugglers from endangering the lives of migrants by sending them off to Europe on risky boat trips. Top officials from Spain, Greece, […]

Mediterranean nations criticize EU solidarity on migrants

June 4, 2022 Frances D'Emilio

(AP) Five European Union nations on the Mediterranean who fear possible waves of refugees driven by hunger out of Africa called Saturday for an end to the EU’s “voluntary” solidarity on migrants and a better way to redistribute the burden of caring […]

Europe’s south expects over 150,000 migrant arrivals this year, minister says

June 4, 2022 Elvira Pollina

(Reuters) Mediterranean countries on major migrant routes into Europe expect over 150,000 arrivals this year as food shortages caused by the Ukraine conflict threaten a new migration wave from Africa and the Middle East. “This year the frontline member states are expected, […]

Migrants held at sea for weeks accuse Malta of rights breach

November 18, 2021 Kevin Schembri Orland

(AP) Some 32 migrants who were held for weeks at sea on tourism boats chartered by the Maltese government during the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic have filed a constitutional complaint in a Maltese court claiming their human rights were violated. […]

Italy hopeful on reviving EU migrant burden-sharing deal

May 12, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AFP) Italy is pushing EU partners to revive migrant burden-sharing deals as it seeks to stave off a summertime surge in landings from North Africa, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Wednesday. Migration has returned to the top of the political agenda in […]

5 nations demand better EU sharing of migration load

March 20, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AP) The interior ministers of the five Mediterranean countries on the front line of mass migration to Europe want their EU partners to share the burden more equitably. “We can no longer be punished for our geographical position,” Malta’s Byron Camilleri said […]

Mediterranean ministers to discuss EU migration policies

March 19, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AP) The interior ministers of the five Mediterranean countries on the front line of mass migration to Europe are meeting in Greece to discuss the European Union’s policies as the bloc works toward a new migration pact. Ministers from Italy, Spain, Malta, […]

UN experts fault Italy in drownings of over 200 migrants

January 27, 2021 Unlisted Author

(AP) Independent human rights experts who work with the United Nations say Italy failed to protect the “right to life” of over 200 migrants who died when the boat they were on sank in the Mediterranean Sea over seven years ago. The […]

Malta imam says religious vilification should be illegal, in France murder reaction Imam Mohammed El Sadi claimed the publication of Charlie Hebdo cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad played into the hands of Muslim extremists and extreme right groups

October 27, 2020 Matthew Vella

(Malta Today) The imam of the Paola mosque, Mohammed El Sadi, has once again called for the criminalisation of blasphemy and the mocking of faiths, in a reaction to the fanatical murder of a French teacher who displayed the notorious Charlie Hebdo […]

Malta says 65 rescued migrants test positive for COVID-19

July 28, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Sixty-five migrants who were in a group of 94 people rescued at sea and taken to Malta on Monday have tested positive for COVID-19, Malta’s health ministry said on Tuesday. It was the single largest cluster of positive cases detected on […]

Syrian in forced marriage attempt charged with Malta’s first honour crime Man remanded in custody after allegedly beating his teenage daughter and trying to force her into an arranged marriage

July 9, 2020 Matthew Agius

(Malta Today) “Help me, please help me,” were the first words a 15-year-old girl told the police when they stormed her house to arrest her father, who was charged earlier today with Malta’s first “honour crime.” The man, from Syria, was remanded […]

Migrants stranded on livestock ship brought to Malta Group of 50 were rescued by the MV Talia on Saturday

July 7, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Times of Malta) Migrants who have spent the past three days aboard a ship built to house animals were brought to Malta late on Tuesday night. Sources said that the roughly 50 people aboard the MV Talia were transferred to an Armed […]

Suicide attempts, fights aboard rescue boat carrying 180 migrants

July 3, 2020 Shahzad Abdul and Alexandria Sage

(AFP) After suicide attempts, fights erupting on board, and migrants jumping into the sea, charity SOS Mediterranee launched an emergency alert on Friday, demanding to be allowed to immediately disembark at a safe port. The humanitarian group, whose vessel the Ocean Viking […]

Stranded migrants grabbed knives, threatened to blow up gas cylinder — Abela 'They gave me 30 minutes or else they would kidnap the crew'

June 7, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Times of Malta) Migrants on board a government-chartered tourist boat off Malta occupied the kitchen, grabbed knives and threatened to blow up a gas cylinder and burn rubbish, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday. “They gave us half an hour to […]

Migrants allowed to disembark from tourist boats amid takeover fears Government 'not willing to endanger lives of crew' after 'commotion' on board

June 6, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Times of Malta) Some 425 migrants who were being held offshore on four tourist boats were finally allowed to disembark on Saturday-Sunday night amid fears of a takeover on one of them. Some of the migrants had been held at sea for […]

Europe rights body urges Malta to stop keeping rescued migrants offshore

June 4, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Europe’s leading human rights body urged Malta on Thursday to allow disembarkation of more than 400 migrants being held on four former tour group boats just outside the Mediterranean island’s territorial waters. Some of the migrants have been held at sea […]

Rescued migrants stranded on chartered Maltese tourist boats

June 3, 2020 Frances D'Emilio and Rene Rossignaud

(AP) More than 400 migrants are living aboard pleasure cruise vessels bobbing in the sea off Malta, many of them for weeks now. But for them, it’s no pleasure, only uncertainty over their fate and they aren’t cruising anywhere. Rescued from human […]

Inquiry into migrant deaths clears prime minister of homicide claims

May 30, 2020 Ivan Martin

(Times of Malta) A magisterial inquiry into whether the prime minister, the brigadier, and the crew of an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat were responsible for the deaths of at least five migrants at sea has cleared them of homicide. The […]

Malta rescues 140 migrants but holds them on tourist boats offshore

May 22, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Malta on Friday rescued a group of 140 migrants from a sinking dinghy but refused to bring them to land, holding them instead on a chartered tourist harbour cruise boat just outside territorial waters. The rescue was conducted by a Maltese […]

UN decries dangerous Med migrant pushbacks

May 8, 2020 Nina Larson

(AFP) The UN voiced alarm Friday at reports that countries are failing to help migrants in distress on the Mediterranean Sea, blocking assistance by NGOs and coordinating pushbacks of their boats. UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville warned during a virtual press […]

Malta pulls out of new EU Libya sea patrols in migration row

May 8, 2020 Chris Scicluna and Robin Emmott

(Reuters) Malta told its European Union partners on Friday it would no longer take part in a new Mediterranean mission to stop more arms reach[ing] warring factions in Libya, just four days after the naval and air operation began patrols. A Maltese […]

Italy impounds migrant rescue ships; charities claim harassment

May 7, 2020 Crispian Balmer

(Reuters) Italian coastguards have impounded two charity rescue boats at the port of Palermo citing “technical and operational” irregularities, which the owners denounced as an excuse to block life-saving missions at sea. The seizure of the German-flagged Alan Kurdi and Spanish-flagged Aita […]

Malta refuses to let migrant ship dock, awaits EU deal

May 1, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Malta plans to keep 57 rescued migrants aboard a private ship anchored just outside territorial waters until the European Union finds a way to rehouse them, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Friday. The migrants were plucked from a dinghy earlier […]

Aid group MSF splits with partner over migrant rescues

April 17, 2020 Unlisted Author

(AP) Aid group Doctors without Borders said Friday it is ending its cooperation with partner SOS Mediterranee amid disagreement over the continued rescue of migrants. Doctors without Borders, which is also known by its French acronym MSF, said it wants to continue […]

Malta takes in rescued migrants despite coronavirus ban

April 10, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) A group of North African migrants rescued from a sinking boat came ashore in Malta early on Friday, hours after the government had said no further groups would be allowed in after it closed its ports due to the coronavirus emergency. […]

Malta says it can no longer rescue, accept migrants

April 9, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Malta can no longer guarantee the rescue of migrants or allow their disembarkation during the coronavirus emergency, the Malta government said on Thursday. It said the decision had been taken because its resources were stretched by the enforcement of measures to […]

Malta locks down migrants camp, puts 1,000 in quarantine after COVID cluster

April 5, 2020 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Some 1,000 African migrants were placed under mandatory quarantine on Sunday after an outbreak of COVID-19 and their camp at Hal Far in the south of Malta was surrounded by police and army trucks to ensure compliance. Health Minister Chris Fearne […]

Several EU countries refuse to back migrant boat plan

October 8, 2019 Lorne Cook

(AP) A large majority of European Union member countries have refused to back a plan to quickly get migrants off boats in the Mediterranean Sea and distribute them among willing EU partners. At a meeting of EU interior ministers, only Ireland, Luxembourg […]

Five EU states agree migration deal, look for broader backing

September 23, 2019 Chris Scicluna

(Reuters) Interior ministers from five European Union countries said on Monday they had agreed a new scheme to distribute migrants saved from the Mediterranean in a deal aimed at relieving the pressure on southern EU states. The plan will be presented to […]

High risk of genital mutilation but low prosecution in Malta February 6 is International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

February 4, 2019 Sarah Carabott

(Times of Malta) There is an imbalance between the high number of girls at risk of female genital mutilation and the low prosecution rates in Malta, according to the EU’s centre on gender equality, which is calling for higher awareness. In October […]

Risk of female genital mutilation in Malta ‘high’ Country asked to strengthen prosecution of FGM-related crimes

October 19, 2018 Sarah Carabott

(Times of Malta) Half of the girls in Malta who originate from countries where female genital mutilation is practised are at risk of this severe form of violence. The percentage of girls at risk is the highest among countries forming part of […]