A 28-year-old man has been charged after allegedly striking two people on the head with a hammer during a violent overnight incident in Civic.

Police say the man – who was subject to court-ordered good behaviour obligations in the ACT – approached a group of people on City Walk about 12.30am on Monday and became involved in a verbal altercation with several individuals.

The situation escalated into a physical confrontation with another man, during which it is alleged the offender removed a hammer from his jumper pocket and struck a man and a woman on the head before fleeing the scene.

Both victims were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Police arrested the man at about 1am on Alinga Street and charged him with two counts of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm and one count of obstructing or hindering an investigation.