Update 2 | Man suspected of attempting to injure junior minister is arrested

Updated

MaltaToday has been informed that a man, identified as Eugene Galea of Mosta, has been arrested by police, suspected of trying to injure parliamentary secretary for animal rights Roderick Galdes.

Government sources said the man drove his car into the ministerial car carrying Galdes as he approached the environment ministry on St Joseph High Road.

The aggressor was said to have blocked Galdes from getting out of the ministerial car by driving from the other side of the carriageway and stopping his vehicle by the side of the ministerial car.

The incident was said to be related to an animal welfare case. According to sources, the aggressor was livid at Galdes's intervention on an alleged case of animal abuse committed by the aggressor.

Galdes, who is reportedly under shock, but not injured, had just returned at his ministerial office at Casa Leone, in Santa Venera following a meeting at Castille.

The incident escalated when the man got out of his car and threatened Galdes. Police were called to intervene.

A spokesperson for the parliamentary secretary confirmed that Galdes is doing well and went ahead with his daily commitments. At 3pm he also attended a Frott ir-Rebbiegha arts festival in Mgarr.

MaltaToday is informed that Galea, formerly employed by the Animal Welfare Department, had been fired twice by the previous administration.

It is believed that the aggression may be related to a police investigation ordered by Galdes into alleged past abuse at the Animal Welfare Department.

Sources said that Galea had already been interrogated by ALE officers in connection with the animal abuse investigation, during which he attempted to assault an interrogating officer.