Police are warning visitors to avoid walking through the "back of town'' area after a US visitor suffered a brutal street mugging.

He was set upon on Monday night at the junction of Court and Victoria streets.

But Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Vic Richmond denied it has become a no-go area.

Mr. Richmond said violent crime was on the increase across the Island. But several of the attacks he highlighted were in the north of Hamilton area.

These include the attack on a local man on Palmetto Road by a gang of youths a few weeks ago, the assault on a ship's crew man on Dundonald Street in early July, and the latest incident on Court Street.

He warned visitors not to walk north of Victoria Street at night unless they were in groups.

But he added: "We are not talking about a no-go area. There are plenty of shops, businesses and clubs in the back of town area which are perfectly safe to go to. All we're saying is take a taxi at night to these places.'' Police said details of the attack on Monday night were still sketchy as the victim had been under sedation.

However, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital confirmed that the 29-year-old victim was discharged at around 4.15 p.m. yesterday.

Mr. Richmond said: "We can't possibly eradicate this type of crime without help from witnesses.

"The visitor, who had come to the Island on his own, had left the Pickled Onion and was walking back to his rented apartment just after 11 p.m. when he was hit on the head by two men.

"He hasn't been able to give a description of his attackers and we are hoping to interview him at length.'' He was found bleeding, near the Sung Sing restaurant, by a local man who called Police.

Det. Sgt. Jerry Laws said the victim was wearing beige shorts and a blue top and he appealed to witnesses to come forward.

"Anyone who knows, saw or heard anything, no matter how insignificant you might think it was at first should call us.'' Witnesses should call Det. Sgt. Laws at Central CID on 295-0011 or use the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-623-8477.

Mr. Richmond resisted calls to treat attacks on tourists any differently than attacks on locals.

He said: "There has been a debate following the increase in crimes against tourists over whether they should be dealt with more harshly.

"Police are conscious of the fact that news of crime against tourists travels beyond our shores much more than crime against locals.

"The Bermudian Police do not differentiate between tourist victims and locals victims. We will treat each equally.'' Crime scene: Det. Sgt. Jerry Laws and Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Vic Richmond on Court Street.