Rob Tornoe, Philly, October 24, 2016

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According to Temple security, a group of over 150 juveniles coordinated a “meet up” on Instagram, amassing on Broad Street near the campus at approximately 8 p.m.

Four youths, ranging in ages between 14 and 17, were arrested in connection with wide-ranging attacks on Temple students, others in the crowd, and two Temple police officers that seemed to mimic the “flash mobs” that hit Center City in recent years.

In one incident, police say a group of three that included two students were assaulted by a group of about 20 juveniles. The trio were kicked, punched, and knocked to the ground. One of the students, Christina Lauletta, was hospitalized at St. Mary’s Hospital, according to her father.

“These sick animals held her down and kicked and stomped on her repeatedly,” Joe Lauletta posted on Facebook, noting workers at a local pizza shop intervened. “Every part of her body is badly bruised. It makes me cry just thinking about it.”

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Students weren’t the only ones involved in the violence. One 15-year-old, who police say was seen throwing rocks at passing cars, knocked an officer pursuing him on bicycle to the ground. {snip}

In probably the most brazen act of violence, police say a 16-year-old came up to a mounted officer and punched the police horse twice in the face. {snip}

Three other victims told police they were walking east in the 1700 block of Cecil B. Moore Ave. when large group of juveniles began hitting and kicking them. One of the victims, a 18-year-old female, sustained scrapes and cuts to her legs, and had her cell phone smashed. The others say the teens stole items ranging from an iPhone to a Bluetooth speaker.

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