Black Monday remembered

The 33rd anniversary of the violence of October 15, 1979 - Black Monday -  is being marked today. On that day, following claims of an assassination attempt against Dom Mintoff,  a Labour Party-supporting group forced its way into The Times offices, destroying everything that was in its path and setting the place on fire. Workers were lucky to escape uninjured, climbing down ladders from windows at the back of the burning building. The mob also attacked PN clubs in Valletta and Floriana before proceeding to the residence of then Opposition leader Eddie Fenech Adami, destroying furniture, beating up the late Mary Fenech Adami and terrorising his children, who escaped by jumping over a number of roofs. The staff of Allied Newspapers marked the anniversary today with Mass at their offices.