Police Investigating Whether Drive-By Murder Of Ħal Far Migrant Was Racially Motivated
Police are investigating whether the drive-by murder of an Ivorian migrant near the Ħal Far open centre was a racially motivated killing.
Lassana Cisse, a 42-year-old factory worker, was shot in the head on Saturday by an unknown gunman while walking along Triq tal-Ġebel, a long road between Ħal Far and Birżebbuġa. Two other Ghanians were also found with gunshot injuries further down the road, but their conditions are not believed to be serious.
All three men were residents of the Ħal Far open centre.
The Times of Malta reported that police are currently analysing CCTV footage and that, while the investigation is still in its early stages, they are not ruling out that it could have been a racially-motivated attack.
The road, which is often used by migrants walking to and from the open centre, has reportedly been at the centre of racially motivated attacks in recent months.
Cisse was killed while walking along Triq tal-Ġebel between Ħal Far and Birżebbuġa
Last month, a Chadian migrant was reportedly run over by a car with no number plate affixed to it in what was a “deliberate hit-and-run”. A few months ago, a flag showing racially inflammatory symbols was erected at a roundabout close to the open centre and had to be taken down twice by the Armed Forces of Malta.
A friend of Cisse told The Times that migrants are living in fear that they could become the next targets of a racially motivated attack.
“Until we get to know the real reason behind the murder, each one of us is asking: am I next?” he said.
PN MEP candidate Michael Briguglio referred to the reports in a video message, in which he said racists should not be allowed to give a bad name to Maltese society.
“Malta knows better than this,” he said. “I urge the authorities to conduct all necessary investigations in a manner that doesn’t trivialise this macabre murder and the injuries suffered by the two other people.”
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