Night of violence stretches police

Three sexual violations, an aggravated robbery and a serious assault that put two men in hospital - all within a few hours of each other - stretched Christchurch police resources on Saturday night.

Detective Sergeant Al Lester of the Christchurch Central CIB said police closed off Cambridge Terrace early yesterday morning after two men were attacked by several assailants at the Bridge of Remembrance around 4am.

"Two people were treated in hospital. One of them has a fractured skull, and we have been unable to get statements from them as yet," Mr Lester said.

Independent witnesses said the two victims had been attacked by a gang of people, who ran off before police arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, another man suffered a broken jaw in an aggravated robbery in Manchester St, in which he was kicked and punched repeatedly.

Two men were arrested after being identified at the scene by witnesses, and will appear in court today.

In all three sexual assault cases, the attackers were known to their victims, and police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the assaults, Mr Lester said.