RCMP Const. Steve Holmes said a man was beaten in shopping mall parking lot but no one intervened or summoned police. (CBC)

A Kelowna, B.C., man was badly beaten by four men Sunday night in full view of passersby, but no one came to his aid or called 911, police say.

The 41-year-old — who was set upon in a shopping mall parking lot by men believed to be in their early 20s — told police he believed he was discriminated against by both his attackers and bystanders.

"He felt that perhaps no one responded because they thought that he was just another homeless person," said Kelowna RCMP Const. Steve Holmes.

'It's a further victimization of a person who's already marginalized.'—Shelter worker Peggy Salaberry

Police were called by a bus driver who reported the bloodied victim getting on his city bus.

Police found him at the Inn from the Cold homeless shelter and took him to hospital where he was treated for a broken nose and possible fractured ribs, said Holmes.

Previous attacks

It was the second time in the past month the same man had been attacked. About two weeks ago, he was taken to hospital where he almost died from a ruptured spleen, according to a worker at Inn from the Cold. Attacks on their clients are becoming disturbingly common, said shelter volunteer Peggy Salaberry.

"I don't know of any provocation," said Salaberry.

"He does have a cart so he's identifiable as a person who's living on the street. There didn't appear to be any [other] reason." Salaberry said there appears to be a growing fear of the homeless.

"They just want to get rid of the problem… I think it's a further victimization of a person who's already marginalized," she said. Salaberry said she was aware of other assaults on street people that were not reported to police.

Two years ago, a homeless couple was attacked in Kelowna by three men who poured paint on them and ran away.

Three people were later arrested and charged.