PHILADELPHIA — Police in Philadelphia are investigating a downtown attack on two gay men that left one with a broken facial bone.

Police are investigating the assault blocks from Rittenhouse Square as a potential hate crime.

Capt. Frank Banford tells The Philadelphia Inquirer that a gay couple was approached Thursday night by two men and a half-dozen females.

Banford says the men were asked if they were a couple, and beaten when they said they were.

Authorities say a 27-year-old victim suffered a bone fracture in his face that will require surgery. Banford says one assailant also took a bag one of the victims dropped before the group fled.

Detectives are checking surveillance video to try to track down the suspects.

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