Police fear a resurgence of gang violence after a man was critically injured in a suspected revenge attack.

It was just one incident in a violent weekend, which saw four different attacks throughout the Island.

Officers arrested five people in connection with the savage beating of a 22-year-old Sandys man, which left him unconscious and suffering a fractured skull.

He remained in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital last night.

The assault took place early Sunday morning and Police believe the incident may be a revenge attack connected to a stabbing incident that occurred last weekend in Devonshire.

A Police spokesperson said: "The possibilities of the resurfacing of gang-like groups and activities has not been ruled out.'' On Saturday of last week, a 21-year-old Pembroke man was stabbed in the stomach during a fight at Devonshire Recreation Club after he became involved in a confrontation with two men he knew following a reggae session held at the club.

The victim suffered a collapsed lung and was found lying bleeding in the middle of the road by Police at Orchard Grove in Pembroke. This weekend's incident is believed to have stemmed from a confrontation on Court Street in the city when the victim was with a group of friends.

Police said he was apparently set upon and chased by several youths as he fled toward Joell's Alley.

He was later found unconscious and bloodied in the alley and taken to the hospital.

The possible gang attack follows a series of meetings organised by Police and opposing groups over the summer in a bid to call a truce to on-going violence.

Attended by Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay, the gang meetings followed a climax of trouble, which resulted in molotov petrol bombs being found, weapons being seized and scores of arrests.

And for a while, the violence abated.

The regular gatherings were praised by Government Minister for Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, Paula Cox, who said Mr. Lemay had to be congratulated for bringing the gang members to the table to talk.

She said at the time: "I think what they have done is stretch out their arms to incorporate everyone, using some innovative methods.'' But it was not the only vicious attack to mar this weekend.

In a separate incident, a 52-year-old Warwick man was brutally attacked and robbed and found lying in a pool of blood on the Railway Trail in Warwick, just after midnight on Friday.

The man was walking west along the Railway Trail after spending the evening at a local club when he was struck from behind with an unknown object.

As he fell, he was beaten about the head and body, before a concrete block was dropped on his ankle. As a result, he suffered a broken ankle.

The robbers then stole cash from the victim and took off.

As the victim lay in pain and bleeding from the unprovoked attack, another man approached him and asked him for money.

When he saw the victim had been robbed, he heartlessly walked away without bothering to get help.

Some time later, another man found the badly beaten victim and called for an ambulance, which later arrived and took the man to hospital.

Police were also called to a third assault which happened at the Warwick Bowl in Middle Road just before 8 p.m. on Friday.

A 35-year-old man told officers he was attacked by a group of youths whom he had earlier been talking to outside the bowling alley.

Violence mars weekend He said the youths attacked him and grabbed his cash, but he managed to escape from the robbers and ran to the Bowl where he called Police.

And in a further incident, Police are investigating a complaint of an assault at the hands of an Oasis nightclub bouncer.

The incident was alleged to have occurred early Sunday morning when a man said he was confronted by the bouncer at the Front Street night spot following an earlier incident, in which he had denied involvement.

The nightclub patron said he was gripped by his neck and choked until he nearly blacked out.

He attended Hamilton Police station to make a complaint, but declined hospital treatment for a number of scratches and bruises. Inquiries are underway.

Anyone who witnessed any of the attacks or who has information that can assist Police is asked to contact the major incident room at 295-0011, or use the anonymous Crime Stoppers confidential hot line on 1-800-623-8477.

Police attended North Shore Road near Abbott's Cliff on Saturday evening just before 10 after a couple reported something had been thrown at their car, smashing the rear passenger door window.

The couple were driving west when they heard something hit the car, and when they stopped to investigate, they found the window next to where their young child was sleeping had been smashed.

Police advised the couple to have their child checked at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for glass splinters.

The incident was one of three similar incidents reported to Police over the weekend in eastern and western parishes involving thrown objects. Police are reminding those responsible in the lead-up to Halloween that such incidents will not be tolerated.

Paula Cox