KOTA KINABALU, Aug 11 — Police are looking for three men involved in an axe attack near the state government administrative building, also known as Menara Kinabalu on Wednesday night.

City police chief assistant commissioner Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said that one of the three main suspects, 37-year-old Winhal Jalali, was believed to have attacked the victim, who was eating in the car with his girlfriend (who is also Winhal’s ex-wife) at around 9pm at the popular open hangout spot.

Winhal, his brother Abdel, 27 and another unidentified suspect had approached the vehicle with an axe and confronted the couple.

According to a video which is being spread on social media, one of the suspects struck the victim several times around his body. The video showed the couple screaming at the suspects to stop while someone else was damaging the car.

"Both the victim and his girlfriend managed to escape by driving away and headed towards the Alamesra police station. The victim was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to get treatment for the injuries to his face, arms and legs,” said Mohd Zaidi.

The woman did not sustain any injuries.

Police urge any members of the public with information to come forward and assist investigations.