Malta’s Prime Minister Blasts ‘Cowardly’ New Zealand Terrorist For Great Siege Reference On His Gun
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said he was angry when he realised that the man responsible for the New Zealand mosque terror attacks had inscribed references to the Great Siege of Malta and the Battle of Lepanto on his rifles.
“I was so angry when I realised that this coward tried to pain some historical link between the Great Siege and his own actions,” Muscat said at a political action in Siġġiewi this morning. “Those who think our history has anything to do with this hatred and terror are so wrong. I won’t get into the argument about how the Great Siege was about people defending themselves and not launching an attack, but I will state that Malta has become a symbol of peace and equality and that we welcome everyone here.”
Brenton Harrison Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, has been charged with the murder of 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch, with his victims’ ages ranging from two to 71 years old. His rifles were inscribed with several phrases, including references to Islam and migration and battles and historical battles.
Offering his condolences to the people of New Zealand, Muscat said that this act proves that acts of terrorism are not confined to a single religion or nationality.
“This was a white man, Christian at least in name, who entered a mosque and killed children, women and men whose only crime was that they were praying in this sacred place,” he said.
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