Condition of man shot in failed hold-up improves

The elderly man who was critically wounded during an attempted armed robbery yesterday at Malta International Airport, has taken a turn for the better and is no longer in danger of loss of life.

The police said the man, a 77-year-old from Qormi, was hit in the face by a shot fired towards him by one of two robbers and was initially certified as being in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, the police confirmed that several persons are being questioned about the attempted theft, although investigations are still underway.

The incident took place while the man was accompanying another person, 64 of Marsa, believed to be handling a large amount of cash after leaving a Bank of Valletta branch. One of the men resisted the robbers, who were said to be wearing balaclavas.

A witness said the victim was drenched in blood, as an ambulance took him away from the site just after 11am on Thursday.

According to sources, nothing was stolen from the victims. It appears that the two robbers, driving a Peugeout, collided into the Renault blocking the victims' car. Two masked men got out of the car, one armed with a knife and the other with a sawn-off shotgun. The driver was shot to his face at a very close distance while the passenger was slightly injured with a knife.

The passenger is currently with the crime scene investigators, describing how the events unfolded.

Shortly after midday, the police found the Peugeot abandoned behind the Gudja cemetry, with the passenger door open and a broken window.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the getaway car had been stolen.