Four men were arrested after three separate victims were punched in the head and robbed by a group of attackers over an hour in downtown Ottawa overnight.
The first attack was just before midnight on Wednesday at Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive, said an Ottawa police news release. A 19-year-old man told police he was punched in the back of the head and robbed of his iPod, BlackBerry and cash by a group of eight people, both men and women.
Half an hour later, another 19-year-old man was punched in the head by "several males" at Bank and Laurier streets, but managed to run away and call police before anything could be stolen, police said.
About half an hour after that, a third 19-year-old man was punched in the back of the head at Bank and Slater streets and required medical attention for minor injuries, police said. The victim's wallet was stolen during the attack. Four men matching the victim's description of the suspects were arrested on an OC Transpo bus and held "for further investigation."
Police believe there may be other suspects.
As of 10:30 a.m. Thursday, no charges had been laid.
