A ‘full on brawl went out of control’ at Rehab Nightclub late Wednesday evening resulted in two stabbings and multiple people taken to hospital with injuries.

Five men needed medical attention after Police struggled to contain the fight just before midnight. 

While Cook Islands News reached out to Rehab Nightclub owner Scott Arlander for comment on Thursday, Police spokesman Trevor Pitt confirmed five men needed medical attention for various injuries. 

“The is a full on brawl that went out of control,” Pitt said. 

The stab wounds on one man were to the hip area and the other man to the lower back.  

One of the two men with stab wounds was a staff member of the nightclub while a second nightclub staff member received head and eye injuries from being struck with an object.   

The ages of the five men ranged from 27 to 49. 

“While this is being investigated, I can only say that this incident does not appear to have involved knifes or blades. Police are looking at other items used in the fight.”

Police were still conducting interviews yesterday and checking video footage.

Pitt confirmed a fight broke out inside the nightclub and “rapidly escalated out of control”.

Police initially despatched two officers, but the scale of the brawl required more personnel. 

Some officers were mobilised from the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting duty and further staff brought in to assist. 

“We had up to ten officers responding.”

Two men have been arrested and remanded in custody, an 18-year-old charged with assaulting a police officer and a 22-year-old charged with fighting in a public place.

The pair had not yet appeared in court because of the ongoing investigation, Pitt said.

Further arrests and additional charges were likely, he said.

“The Police won’t tolerate this loutish behaviour and will be pursuing all those involved in committing offences.”