Philadelphia police have two teenagers in custody after a violent group of young people attacked pedestrians in Center City on Saturday night.
Around 6 p.m. a group of youths began randomly attacking people in the 1600 block of Walnut Street. Police described the group as a "flash mob," ABC affiliate WPVI reported. At least six people were injured during the attacks.
Among them was an off-duty Philadelphia police detective and his wife. The couple was attacked after the detective attempted to intervene in defense of some of those being assaulted by the mob.
"You saw how quickly an off-duty detective responded," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told WPVI. "He got seriously hurt doing so, but he did his job. And we are very proud of him."
"It reminded me of a riot before," a homeless man who WPVI identified only as Gary said. "A bunch of cops were flying up on bikes, and as I came around the corner, a bunch of kids tried to run and the cops were going after them."
Four of the victims had to be taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for treatment. The detective, who received the most severe injuries, is currently being treated for a broken eye socket.
The two teens in custody are being charged with assault but police are still looking for other suspects connected to the violent flash mob.
"You're talking about someone getting seriously hurt," Commissioner Ross told the news station, "not to mention just infringing upon someone else's liberty to walk down the street. They should absolutely be [held] accountable for what they did."
The attack comes two weeks after a similar incident at Temple University. In that incident, as many as 150 youths began attacking people, leaving one hospitalized. A police horse was also punched.
The motivation for the attacks remains unclear.
"It's crazy out here," local resident Dwight Magood told WPVI. "I don't know if they were trying to protest or 'flash mobbing.' But it's not the right way to do it, whatever it was."
Police are currently reviewing security footage of the incident and other evidence in hopes of identifying more perpetrators. They are asking anybody with knowledge of the incident to contact them.