Police have nabbed one of two suspects in the baseball-bat attack and mugging of a Hamilton teenager.

Matthew Hribar, 18, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and robbery for the midnight mugging on Rymal Road East and Fletcher Road, police said.

The teen was to appear in court Thursday morning.

Noah Rabbani, 15, was beaten with a baseball bat and robbed by two male attackers while he was walking to his grandparents' home in the Glanbrook neighbourhood on Nov. 27.

The suspect was arrested as a result of a police initiative called Project Trail-Finder to combat residential entries and violent crimes in the city. The arrest is also the result of a previous investigation.

The project was launched in November.

In the Noah Rabbani beating, the suspects took his backpack but didn't steal his cellphone or wallet, which were in his pocket.

His family believe the attackers may have been fuelled by hate or racism given that Rabbani is Muslim and of Pakistani descent. Police said in a Wednesday release there is no evidence to suggest the crime was "hate motivated."

Police said Wednesday there is no indication the incident is hate-motivated, but the investigation is still ongoing.

Father Khalid Rabbani said late Wednesday he was aware of the arrest but hadn't learned anything else from police about what prompted the attack on his son. "Right now I'm just glad they caught someone," he said.