A teenager attacked on The Glebe Road, Pembroke, last night was in the area “to participate in antisocial behaviour”, according to police.

And a 34-year-old male from Pembroke has now been taken into custody by detectives investigating the matter.

The 18-year-old victim is currently in a stable condition in hospital after being hit in the head with a hammer at around 5.45pm. The teenager was knocked unconscious and was in a critical condition when first taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

This afternoon a police spokesman said that the attack took place after a “heated verbal altercation” escalated into physical violence.

“Apparently the injured teenager attended the area with other young people to participate in antisocial behaviour organised through social media,” the spokesman said.

“As a result police are appealing to those involved not to retaliate or escalate their antisocial behaviour.

“Whilst police acknowledge that the investigation is in its early stages, initial accounts indicate that the incident involved participants engaged in a heated verbal altercation which appears to have escalated into objects being thrown by parties in the area.”

The spokesman added that CCTV footage and forensic evidence from the scene had been collected for examination.

Reports from members of the public have suggested that several men wearing dark helmets attacked the victim in the middle of the street.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses or anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity to contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 247-1744.