A 24-year-old man was shot in the hand by two unknown males as he rode his motorbike through Somerset early yesterday morning.

Bermuda's third shooting of 2010 took place just yards from St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in the area of Scott's Hill Road.

Father Joseph Morley said parishioners who later attended mass, were concerned for their safety after Police cordoned off the church.

Officers did not name the man who was shot. He was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for the injury to his right hand, and released.

"His injury is not considered serious," a Police spokesperson said. "Officers immediately set up vehicle check points and put legislated stop and search powers into effect in the search for the perpetrators.

"Information has already been provided by some members of the community, and detectives from the Serious Crime Unit are anxious to speak with anyone that may have heard, seen, or know anything about this incident."

Father Morley, the first Bermudian to be ordained as a diocesan priest, said: "People don't have any respect for themselves or others. Anybody could have been shot.

"I could have been shot or one of the parishioners. People have been calling to see if I am OK and asking if church services are continuing as almost every entrance to the church is covered in crime tape.

"There is too much violence at the moment. There is a lack of faith on this Island, people are not following the Ten Commandments, people are not learning right from wrong."

He added his voice to those of community leaders urging gang members' families and friends to speak to Police: "If we become afraid of them they have won. And I refuse to let them intimidate me. If more people don't take a stand against violence — because people do know [who is involved] — then this thing will not stop."

News of the violence left area residents a little shaken however many claimed to have been desensitised by the recent spate of shootings. In the last 14 months 20 people have been shot; five were killed.

An assistant manager at area grocery store Arnold's Supermarket said: "We were just surprised. Yes, of course, we are worried but we have to go on with our business."

An employee at a nearby business said: "Police were out there this morning. I, like everyone else, was trying to figure out what happened. It just seems the norm. I just think that people aren't too worried because they are not in that space, they are not involved in that type of behaviour or activities.

"There's definitely a sense of desensitisation. We just don't understand why this is all happening."

One resident said he was not overly worried: "It's getting too close to home but I am not going to be frightened.

"Whatever these youth have against each other I know that I am not involved. I don't know what to think. Everything seems upside down."

A hospitality worker said he was more concerned about Bermuda's economy than his safety.

"It's becoming a major concern for our tourism industry," he said. "Unless we get on top of it, all the [tourism] initiatives we are doing will go.

"If we don't deal with it now we may end up passing up on our visitors. The recession is not helping any country and what these guys are doing is creating a problem for us."

Persons with information are asked to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8115 or telephone the anonymous Crimestoppers line 800-8477. Anonymous tips can also be sent via the confidential Crimestoppers Bermuda website, www.crimestoppers.bm.