British police are hunting a man who broke into an upmarket London hotel and battered three women with a hammer.

The Metropolitan Police force says the women, all from the United Arab Emirates, suffered head and facial injuries. One is in critical condition in a hospital, while the others are in serious but not life-threatening condition.

The women, in their 30s, and three children were asleep in adjoining rooms of the Cumberland Hotel in central London when a man broke in early Sunday. Police say the women were attacked after they awoke and disturbed the intruder.

Detectives found a hammer at the scene.

Police said Monday that they are treating the attacks as attempted murder.

Source: Associated Press