Police faced a night of carnage last night as three men were shot and a man was attacked with a Samurai sword in a separate incident. The men were gunned down outside a bar in Hamilton at 11 p.m.

Their condition was not known at the time of going to press but trails of blood stained the sidewalk by Place's Place.

Just less than an hour earlier, six men burst into a house in Bulkhead Drive, Warwick, brandishing a gun and a sword.

Police say a man is currently being treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for cuts to his hand and body.

Police Media Relations Officer Dwayne Caines said last night: "It appears a group of men barged into a residence brandishing a firearm and a Samurai sword. "Someone brandished a firearm, however no one was shot. But one man was then cut about the hand and body. He was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he is presently being treated for his injuries.

"In the meantime, at 10.55 p.m. Police responded to a report of gunshots being fired in the area of Dundonald Street, in the parking lot just adjacent to Place's Place.

"It appears that three men were shot and are in hospital being treated for their injuries.

"Their condition at this juncture is unknown but Police are appealing for anyone that may have been in the area of Place's Place and Dundonald Street or Court Street who may have seen anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem to be, to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 296 0011."

Asked if he thought the two incidents were linked, he said: "At this time we are treating each incident on its own merit."

Outside Place's Place last night, residents and passers-by were shocked at what had happened. Police cordoned off the car park while officers interviewed potential witnesses and a Forensics officer combed the entrance to the alleyway between Place's Place and Armstrong's Barber Shop looking for clues.

The alleyway has a metal gate and leads to a group of eight to ten apartments both above and at the rear of the bar. At the entrance to the alleyway, nine overturned white paper coffee cups were spaced out on the sidewalk. A Police source said they were covering bullet casings and other forensic evidence. As the Forensics officer shone a torch along the ground and over the surrounding walls, a scarlet pool of blood was reflected in its beam. Trails of blood also ran down onto the sidewalk.