A prominent Maltese chef has shared his thoughts following an incident involving a man throwing items at parked police cars before subsequently fleeing – and the police’s actions used to bring the man into custody.

“I remain steadfast – I’m with the police from A-Z, we’re going to call them out because they kicked someone?” Sean Gravina said after footage of an officer kicking a 19-year-old Somali national who had just fled them made the rounds online.

“Come on – instead of thanking them for chasing after him. I know what we see in St Julian’s… if he had kicked him and opened his chest or smashed his face, it’s one thing, but he barely touched him.”

Gravina was reacting to people saying that as a public figure, he shouldn’t publicly support these kinds of actions.

“Firstly, I’m not a public figure, and secondly I’m not promoting violence just because I’m standing up for the policeman who is just doing his job. Malta isn’t what it once was.”

“All I know is, if he wasn’t arrested he may have hurt someone. Let him do his job – the guy could have been Maltese for all the Karens coming with the racist comments.”

“Malta police force – well done for your work.”

What do you make of the police blowback and support following the St Julian’s arrest?