A trio of armed and masked men burst into a Flatts barbershop and attacked a man working there yesterday afternoon.

The 26-year-old victim suffered cuts to his head and body during the assault, which took place in front of several customers.

The culprits fled from the scene by car. Sources told this newspaper last night that the incident may stem from an ongoing domestic dispute.

One male customer who was inside International Lines and Designs at the time told The Royal Gazette: "Three guys came to the barber shop – one with a machete, one with a bat and one with a knife and pepper spray.

"It was right after lunch, they just came in. The first one swung the bat and hit the guy.

"I don't know if he hit him with the machete next – it was just some scrambling on the floor.

"Then the guy with the machete ran out first and the other two ran out behind, then I guess they went behind the gas (station) house. I saw a car pull out but I don't know if they were in it."

The man said the whole thing lasted around three minutes. There were four male customers including him, plus two women and three staff members there at the time.

He described how one woman screamed out the name of one of the assailants.

The eyewitness, who is from Hamilton Parish but asked not to be identified, said of the culprits: "They came there especially – it seemed they came there for one person that they went after.

"It was an assault, not a robbery. They were wearing things like ski masks or skullies across their faces. Me, I was trying to get out and I did."

Mickey Adderley, owner of Flatts Menswear store, which is on the opposite side of North Shore Road to the barber shop, saw three young men with ski masks on run past his shop towards the barbershop.

"Then there was a commotion. They came running out. One went westward and two came eastward and jumped into a car at Brightside (guest apartments) that was turquoise/green coloured," he said.

Mr. Adderley said he'd never heard of anything similar happening in the village before, commenting: "Flatts is very quiet. People will be surprised I think."

A construction worker who was across the street at the time said: "I didn't see it because I was working. I just heard a woman inside screaming something. Then the Police came."

Michael Lightbourn, owner of Brightside guest apartments, said one of his staff members who was outside saw the men run up and get into a green car parked at the premises.

Asked about the impact of the incident on the Flatts community he replied: "Nothing really surprises me nowadays but it's something that doesn't happen regularly. It's a little village and it's unfortunate when it does happen.

"We all look out for each other from one day to the next, especially when it comes to security... it can happen anywhere whether it's a little barbershop or on Front Street."

Staff at the shop refused to comment on the incident. According to a Police spokesman, officers attended a reported assault at the premises at 2 p.m.

"On arrival officers found the victim, a 26-year-old Smith's parish man, sitting outside the shop with a laceration to his head as well as cuts and abrasions to his body. An ambulance arrived at the scene a short time later and transported the Smith's parish man to KEMH for treatment.

"It appears that the victim was working in the barbershop earlier that day when three unknown men entered the establishment brandishing bladed articles and blunt objects. The suspects assaulted the victim and then made good their escape in a car. Inquiries into this incident are underway," he said.

The man was discharged from hospital after treatment in the emergency room. No arrests had been made by press time. Anyone with information should call the St. George's Criminal Investigation Unit on 2932222.