Birdwatchers' cars burnt at Buskett - BirdLife demands action

The Sunday Times reports:

"Three cars belonging to birdwatchers were destroyed by fire at Buskett early this morning. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. The vehicles were a Ford Fusion, a Honda Odessey and a Pajero Jnr.

The incident happened at around 6.30 a.m. The fire was put out by the Civil Protection Department. No one was injured and no further damage was caused.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera is heading an inquiry.

BirdLife Malta said two of the cars belonged to members of its council while the third, which had 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 15 minutes fire engines and Police had arrived on the scene. BirdLife Malta's Executive Director Tolga Temuge also arrived at the scene shortly after.

BirdLife said it had been informed by the Police 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 10 days ago it sent a letter to the Commissioner of Police copied 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 a website forum. BirdLife had requested action from the relevant authorities but it 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".