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Students Beaten, Horse Punched In Mob Attacks At Pa. University

PHILADELPHIA (AP/KDKA) - Philadelphia police say they've arrested four teens on assault charges in flash mob attacks around Temple University in which college students were beaten, an officer was knocked down and a police horse was punched in the face.

Police say the attacks were carried out Friday night by bands of as many as 100 boys and girls. Students were surrounded and then punched, kicked, robbed and in some cases knocked to the ground by groups of 20 to 30 teens.

Arrests have been made in only one of the cases.

According to CBS Philly, Temple University put out an alert Friday night regarding the incidents saying: "Increased police activity due to large groups of juveniles along Broad Street on/near Main Campus. Police responding. Avoid area."

A Temple student said around 9:30 Friday night he was leaving work when he saw what looked to be at least 200 juveniles walking in large groups.

He said he overheard police saying these kids were playing the knockout game and that a 10-year-old stole his phone, then threw the phone at his face.

Around 15 minutes later, the student said he was walking with his girlfriend when they were approached by at least seven juveniles. The student said his girlfriend was struck by one of the juveniles.

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Police say a boy punched a police horse twice in the face, and another threw a Temple officer to the ground.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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