During the early hours of this morning, three cars belonging to BirdLife Malta volunteers were torched by unknown individuals in Buskett. All three cars were totally destroyed. Two of the cars belong to BirdLife Malta council members while the third car, exhibiting a diplomatic plate, belongs to an American citizen who started volunteering with the organisation a few months ago.

The three volunteers were carrying out scientific ringing studies in Buskett. They arrived on site at around 5.45 a.m. and headed off to a nearby field to start their work. Just a few minutes after, they heard a bang. Within fifteen minutes fire engines and Police had arrived on the scene. BirdLife Malta's Executive Director Tolga Temuge also arrived at the scene shortly after.

The Police informed BirdLife that the incident was most probably a criminal act. Mr Temuge said: "This is not the first time such a thing has happened. Our reserves as well as the EU Life project site were vandalised, 3,000 trees and shrubs were uprooted and sawed down at FORESTA 2000 and to this day not one single person has been brought to justice. This inaction is giving a dangerous message that these criminals can get away with what they are doing."

BirdLife said that ten days ago the organisation had sent a letter to the Commissioner of Police and in copy to the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment George Pullicino informing them about messages with an increasingly threatening tone posted on the FKNK website forum. BirdLife had requested action from the part of the relevant authorities but, up till today, the organisation had received no communication from the Police.

"We demand urgent action from the government to bring these criminals to justice. What are they waiting for, someone to get seriously hurt?" Temuge concluded.