[comment caption=Is Dunedin becoming more violent?]Three serious assaults in Dunedin at the weekend have left police calling for witnesses to come forward.
A 15-year-old youth was stabbed in the arm during a gang fight in North Dunedin, a 39-year-old man was seriously injured in an attack by two youths with knuckle-dusters in Carroll St, and a 26-year-old woman was assaulted in the central city as she walked home from a city bar.
Detectives investigating the apparent random attacks say several other people may also have been assaulted and not yet come forward.
The youth was stabbed in the arm during a fight in Howe St about 11pm on Friday in what police said was a gang-related incident.
"There was a large group of people in the vicinity [of Harley's Bar] at the time as there was a party going on at an address in Howe St and the people involved in this incident are believed to have been associated with the party," Detective Sergeant Chris Henderson said.
The victim remained in Dunedin Hospital last night after having surgery.
The alleged offender was described as Maori or Polynesian, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, about 185cm tall, of solid build.
After the stabbing, associates of the victim attacked the alleged offender with a crowbar and broken bottles.
In the second incident, two men approached a 39-year-old man in Carroll St about 3am on Saturday.
They hit him repeatedly around the head with knuckle-dusters and robbed him.
A police dog team tracked the alleged assailants to a central city address.
Brothers aged 16 and 19 were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.
They were remanded in custody to appear in Dunedin District Court tomorrow.
The victim was treated at hospital for moderate facial injuries.
Police now believed several other people may have been assaulted with knuckle-dusters at the weekend and have yet to report it, Det Sgt Henderson.
Between 4.45am and 5.05am yesterday, a 26-year-old woman was subjected to what police described as a "unprovoked vicious attack" by an unknown man in Manor Pl as she walked home after leaving a central city bar.
Det Sgt Henderson said the woman decided to walk home along Princes St alone after she considered the line of people waiting for a taxi was too long.
As she walked along the Manor Pl footpath she was attacked from behind, pushed to the ground and assaulted.
The victim struggled and both rolled off the footpath and down a bank on to Market Reserve. She managed to break free and scream for help, and also called police when she got home.
Police declined to comment on her injuries.
A police dog tracked the offender across the reserve to a nearby bus depot, where the scent was lost.
The alleged offender is described as a Maori, aged in his 30s, with black hair shaved to a No 2 cut, about 170cm tall and of medium build.
He was wearing a light-coloured jacket, blue jeans and sneakers.
Police are seeking witnesses to all the attacks.
