February 13, 2001 9:27: POLICE are investigating links between five attacks by drive-by gangs on pedestrians over the same night.

PC Steve Welford who is investigating the incidents, said he feared the attacks may have been copycat crimes. He said there had been a TV show showing similar incidents in America on the night before the attacks.

He said: "I think that these people have gone out and copied what they have seen on the television because we have never had anything like this before."

One of the victims, a 29-year-old white man, had his arm fractured with a baseball bat by a passenger in a maroon Ford Escort. The Hazlemere man fears that he could have been killed if it had been a foot higher.

The victim was struck as he walked home from the Queen's Head pub on the A404 Amersham Road, Hazlemere, at around 9pm on February 2. He believes the attacks may have been racially motivated.

Police have not confirmed whether all the victims were white or if the attackers are believed to be Asian.

Kate Spark, spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: "We always deal with incidents as racial incidents if anyone involved feels that race is the motivation behind the attack."

Other victims were a man struck in the back near Terry Road, Hazlemere, at about 10pm. He was hit by the passenger of a yellow Renault Clio.

Another incident occurred in Cock Lane, High Wycombe, at 10.10pm and a fifth pedestrian was injured in Pond Approach, Holmer Green, at 9pm. He was hit by a missile, possibly a bottle, thrown from a red Ford Escort.

Call PC Welford on (01494) 465888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

James Cox