A man suffered serious head injuries after being beaten by a group of men armed with what Police described as 'blunt objects'.

The assault was one of three violent incidents that unfolded across the Island on Wednesday evening. They led to calls from Opposition leader Kim Swan for the "spiritual malaise" that prompted them to be addressed

According to a Police spokesman, officers were called to Bowes Lane in Sandy's parish, around 10.45 p.m, following reports of an assault. "It appears that around 10.30 p.m. the victim, a 25-year-old Sandy's parish man, was sitting on a motorcycle in the Bowes Lane area when a group of men approached him brandishing blunt objects," said the spokesman.

"The group of men assaulted the victim, striking him in the head and body. They then fled the immediate area on foot before making good their escape in two cars travelling south on Bowes Lane and east on Malabar Road."The victim was rushed to King Edward VII Hospital for treatment for his head injuries, which were yesterday described as serious, but not life threatening by the Police spokesman.

A hospital spokeswoman said he was in a stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit yesterday evening.The suspects are described as young men of small build wearing black clothing. The tallest suspect was around 5ft 8in. Earlier that evening, around 5.15 p.m, Police attended a reported attempted robbery at a business in Elliot Street, Pembroke.

The business was not named by the Police spokesman, who explained:"On arrival officers spoke with the victim, a 73-year-old Devonshire man, who stated that around 5.05 p.m. that day, he was in the store when three unknown men entered the establishment.

"One of the suspects then brandished a weapon and demanded money. However, the victim was able to activate a personal alarm device and the offenders fled the scene on foot empty handed, heading along Elliot Street towards King Street."The victim was not injured.

The first suspect is described as a light brown skinned male, approximately 5'4" tall of small build wearing a light coloured hooded jacket (possibly blue with white trim at the bottom), baggy blue jeans and believed to be in his early 20s.

The second suspect is described as a male approximately 5'8" tall of stocky build wearing a faded/washed out blue jean type hooded jacket with the hood over his head, believed to be in his 30s.

The third suspect is described as a male wearing a hooded jacket with the hood over his head. In a third incident around 6.10 p.m, Police received a report of a robbery on Middle Road in Southampton. The spokesman said:"It appears that around 5 p.m. that day the victims, a 38-year-old Southampton man and a 33-year-old Southampton man, were waiting at the bus stop near the junction with Lighthouse Road when an unknown man approached them brandishing a weapon and demanding money.

"The suspect then brandished a bladed article and one of the victims handed over his wallet. The offender took a quantity of cash from the wallet and made good his escape on foot along the Railway Trail towards Riviera Estate."The victims were not injured.

The suspect is described as a dark brown skinned male of slim build, approximately 5'9" tall wearing a blue sweater, dark coloured pants and large dark coloured shades. The three attacks are not believed to be linked. Anyone with information about the Sandy's or Southampton incident should contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.

Anyone who can help investigators regarding the Pembroke attack should call the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.Speaking out after news of the attacks, Opposition leader Mr. Swan called on spiritual and political leaders "to hit the streets and address the real threat to our quality of life increasing violence across our 20-square miles".

He warned:"This tiny rock is our world and unless we confront the truth of what is happening to many of our fellow Bermudians, we risk losing much of what has made this one of the most blessed places on the planet."The consequences of not confronting the situation, of turning away from it, are potentially extreme, for our way of life and for our economy. Violent crime is the enemy of tourism and international business. No one who cares about this country should overlook that vital reality. "It is beyond time to sound the warning bells.

The violence we are experiencing speaks to a spiritual malaise. We need strong, good leadership to address these ills, from the pulpit to the Cabinet Office. Bermuda's political, spiritual and civic leaders need to focus on this challenge, this threat to Bermuda; to speak as one."