At least 10 villagers at a ceremony in Svay Rieng town’s Koy Trabek village were injured after being attacked by seven masked “gangsters” on Saturday, officials said yesterday.

Meas Sareurn, police chief of Koy Trabek commune, said a villager, Som Chantu, 19, was hacked twice with a knife on the left side of his head and sustained a serious injury. He is in a provincial hospital, while other victims received three to four stitches.

Sareurn said an 18-year-old villager, Khun Sovandaro, was arrested on site.

“In the brawl, the gangsters wore masks making them unrecognisable. But with witnesses’ statements, police arrested two more suspects on Sunday,” Sareurn said.

According to the interrogator, the suspect, Khun Sovandaro, said some of the victims jostled him on the dance floor and stole his female companions. He said he then ordered the attack. The suspect is being held at the Svay Rieng town police station and is charged with intentional violence.