SAN DIEGO - Calling the attack on five gay men outside the San Diego LGBT Pride festival this weekend cowardly, city officials today urged the public to come forward with information to help track down the suspects.

"I have a few choice words for the criminals who committed this vicious attack, and for any others who are contemplating perpetrating such a crime - you are cowards," Mayor Jerry Sanders said.

Five men were assaulted Saturday night with baseball bats and a "stabbing implement believed to be a knife" after leaving the festival in Balboa Park, said San Diego Police Department Chief William Lansdowne.

The injuries were described as non-fatal, but one man remained hospitalized with a fractured skull on the right side of his face, Lansdowne said.

The suspects were described as three white men, 18-23, who were wearing dark clothing at the time of the attack, he said.

Lansdowne said police believe the incident was a "planned attack" and he assigned five investigators to work the case.

"We are absolutely convinced that we will be able to solve this crime in a short amount of time," he said. "We are working diligently on this case."

Police are investigating the assault as a hate crime because anti-gay remarks accompanied the attacks, Sanders said.

"The attackers taunted the victims with anti-gay insults as they were beating them," he said. "This is the very definition of a hate crime."

Councilwoman Toni Atkins said her office had received 2-3 phone calls prior to the festival from Hillcrest residents concerned about hate crimes.

"All violent crime is serious, but when it is motivated by hate for a particular group, like the lesbian and gay community, we need to be even more vigilant about finding the perpetrators and bringing them to justice," Atkins said. "Solving these crimes is a priority."

She said it was "very regretful" that the acts of a few people "marred" what was otherwise a successful two-day event.