An argument ensued, with the woman challenging the man on his statement, questioning why he asked her to ‘go back to her country’ and threatening to report him to the police for racism.

The man can be heard saying he’s Maltese, to which the woman responds “Who cares if you’re Maltese?” and a swearing match ensues.

Public reaction to this video has been diverse, with some calling the man out for using a common and by now notorious phrase to denigrate foreigners in Malta. 

“When someone with limited intelligence says “go back to your country” the answer should be ‘Sorry I don’t own any country’,” someone commented. “People use this phrase when they run out of other similarly unintelligent insults, and use it mostly when they are completely on the wrong as a last resort to get an upper hand in an argument.” 

However, others warned the woman’s behaviour was unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances.

“She kept pointing in the man’s face and yelling, with no respect for the other patrons on the bus,” someone said. “This is why people have these feelings towards a certain person, [regardless of] the colour of the skin or where you come from.” 

“She is lucky the little older lady didn’t slap her, she was leaning over her like a bully and pointing!” another comment read. “The bus driver should have told her that to get off if she doesn’t stop; simply defuse the situation!  And if any person thinks you call the police for racism a few words on a bus, then look out Malta; you have a problem!”

What do you make of this latest incident?

READ NEXT: Bus Driver Bit, Spat On And Attacked By Passenger In Rabat ‘After Refusing To Let Him Off Early’