The number of seemingly random attacks by groups of young men in Fredericton since late May is five, CBC News has learned, and police are not ready to say they are linked.

Two men were jumped outside a pool bar in downtown Fredericton on June 11, just minutes before a previously reported attack less than a block away.

'The people that are out there doing this are cowards.'— Scott McLeod

Greg Tubb, 23, was walking with his roommate just after 1 a.m. in an alley outside Dooly's between King and Queen streets when they were attacked from behind by four males.

The incident appears similar to four other attacks reported since late May, but Fredericton police have not said whether the five incidents are linked.

"I don't know if was just copy cat things or something along those lines, but it's got to stop," Tubb said. "People are getting afraid to walk around downtown after dark."

Tubb was attacked half an hour before Scott MacLeod, 27, was similarly assaulted by five men in the same area. His injuries — a swollen and bruised face and cuts and bruises on his body — have healed, but he says he is still fearful.

MacLeod was less than half a block from the police department, and across the street from City Hall. Two of his friends were about a block behind him and saw the whole thing happen.

"I think it's disgusting and I think that the people that are out there doing this are cowards," he said Wednesday. "I don't think that they have anything better to do than go around and beat up innocent people who are just trying to live a normal life."

Fredericton police are investigating the similarities in what happened to McLeod and Tubb, and in the three other attacks.

Restaurant worker Jason Buchanan was accosted and beaten by a group of six males on June 11. A 17-year-old male is in hospital awaiting facial reconstructive surgery following an incident the night of July 14 in which 10 males in two cars attacked him in front of a north-side grocery store. Another attack occurred July 14, also involving two carloads of males, against three males leaving a birthday party on the city's south side.

Each of the incidents involved a group of young men apparently picking victims at random.