By Chris Mautner
Source pennlive.com
At least one police officer was injured and several teenagers were arrested when what is being called a flash mob event spun into chaos in the Center City section of Philadelphia, according to multiple media reports.
Police were called to the area around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday after receiving reports of a large fight taking place in the Fashion District. After being able to move the crowd outside, the hundreds of teens involved moved along Market Street and into Love Park and near City Hall, according to 6ABC.
The crowd then started to confront authorities around 8:30 p.m., in some instances throwing rocks at them, climbing up a traffic light, and onto the top of a police car.
NBC10 said that video it obtained showed the teens rushing police officers at various locations.
Police from other areas of the city were called in to assist and officers closed multiple roads as they attempted to disperse the crowd. SEPTA police became involved when some teens went into the subway system, with at least one jumping down into the track area, the Philadelphia Inquirer said.
One officer had a non-life-threatening injury. At least one of the people arrested had a firearm.
By about 10 p.m., the crowd had dispersed.
“Tonight, a large group of mostly young people was being destructive and disruptive in Center City. This dangerous behavior will not be tolerated. We take public safety very seriously,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.
“I’m saddened when young people engage in behavior that endangers themselves and others, especially because it is not representative of the majority of our city’s youth, who are positively engaged in their communities. We all must work together to support our young people,” the statement said.
______
©2023 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit pennlive.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
