European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has paid tribute to Malta’s police officers following today’s shooting in St Julian’s, thanking them for their courage and wishing a speedy recovery to the officers injured in the line of duty.Taking to social media, Metsola said choosing to become a police officer means choosing “a life of service, courage and responsibility towards our country.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)She said today’s incident was another reminder of the personal risks officers face every time they report for duty.“Behind every uniform is a person. There is a family waiting for them to return home, safe and well,” she wrote.Metsola said members of the Malta Police Force deserve not only the country’s gratitude but also its respect, support and the resources they need to carry out their duties safely.“To all those who serve every day to protect Malta, Gozo and our people: thank you,” she said.The incident unfolded at around 10:30am in St Julian’s, when police responded to what is believed to have been a case of arson at a construction site.According to Police spokesperson Brandon Spiteri, officers identified a suspect inside a building after another individual at the scene was arrested. As police approached, the suspect allegedly opened fire, triggering a major operation involving the Special Intervention Unit.Two police officers were injured during the incident, one suffering slight injuries and another sustaining gunshot wounds to the face and neck.The latter was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, where he underwent surgery and remains in serious condition. The operation concluded with the suspect being arrested.•