Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker believes the justice system is failing the community after separate violent attacks on Friday sent two men to hospital with serious injuries.

In one instance, a man picking up a child from an after-school program at Morris Academy was set upon by a group of young people and was allegedly beaten with a bat. He suffered serious injuries as a result.

A second attack involving another victim occurred a short time later further down Roosevelt Avenue. The incidents have left residents and the local school community shaken and looking for answers.

In January, a number of young people were arrested and charged following a series of random, unprovoked violent attacks.

Mayor Aker says it’s very troubling.

“This is very much an isolated incident. We do have some issues from time to time within the city, but I think every community has those same issues. And frankly, it’s the justice system. I don’t think it’s the RNC. It’s the justice system that tends to fail us as a community,” he said.

The RNC investigation continues, and patrols in the community have increased. Meanwhile, Independent member for Mount Pearl-Southlands, Paul Lane says officials may have to look at stationing more police officers in the area.

“The reality of it is that we’ve seen an uptick in crime and an uptick in violence. A lot of it is related to, I believe, the drug problem that we have in our province, and Mount Pearl is certainly not immune to that. And we’re hearing of more serious crimes than we’ve heard of before,” he said.