culminated in a teen being stabbed in a Hamilton night club on Sunday night.

Rival gangs also confronted each other off Ord Road, Paget on Monday but Police are to press ahead with tonight's meeting of the warring factions.

A 17-year-old Hamilton Parish man suffered three knife wounds after being stabbed in the Escape Night Club in Par La Ville Road, Hamilton shortly before midnight.

Police are unsure where in the club the incident occurred but yesterday a trail of blood could be clearly seen leading from the pavement outside the nightspot all the way to the Esso Garage some 50 yards away.

A Police spokesman said: "There were lacerations to the victim's face, bicep, and one at the back of the forearm.'' The spokesman said Police have no clues who the attacker was and are appealing for witnesses from the crowd which thronged the street.

"The guy refused to make a complaint. He was taken to hospital, had stitches and he's been released.

"There were 300 people out there.'' An Esso garage attendant told The Royal Gazette : "There was a huge amount of people standing around.

"I called 911, but by the time I put the phone down the Police had come and everyone dispersed.'' Numbers in the street were swelled by football fans leaving the Charity Cup tie between PHC and North Village at BAA field.

But the officer said Police were convinced the stabbing was due to a gang conflict after a string of gang related thefts over the weekend including bike and a car.

He said: "They were taken from gangs as some sort of retaliation. They were all taken from gang related areas.

"There's two riot squads going out to the known gang areas because of what happened. They are wearing public order gear, they've got the whole works.'' And there was another gang confrontation in Tribe Road Number Five in Paget yesterday, the scene of an earlier disturbance during last month's violence.

Police spokeswoman said: "There was a report of a disturbance at 2.54 p.m.

and we made one arrest.

"The complainant reported his cycle had been stolen, three men attended with weapons had words with other guys there.'' Story, Picture on Page 5 Police to continue gang dialogue "But we have no description from witnesses.

Police had hoped they had quelled last month's gang violence by setting up meetings between the factions after a clampdown had netted 145 arrests.

The media relations spokeswoman denied the weekend violence proved mediation had broken down, but admitted Police had been forced to step up activities.

"The task force is being deployed after a number of incidents in the last 24 hours.'' Last Tuesday's mediation session saw only groups from outside Hamilton attend while factions from town stayed away.

But the spokeswoman said the force was hopeful more gangs would attend tonight's meeting at CedarBridge Academy.

She said: "We are not worried and we are still extending our invitation to all the groups on the Island to come back.

"The talks last time were very successful. The first meeting saw representatives from four groups.

"Last Friday Police met with representatives from three other groups and got a commitment that they would be represented at Tuesday's meeting.'' Blood stain: A trail of blood marks the sites outside the Escape nightclub on Par La Ville Roads over the weekend, the results of more fighting between rival gangs.