Updated at 10:15 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Temple University and Philadelphia police are trying to find suspects involved in a slew of robberies and assaults committed after hundreds of kids gathered near campus over the weekend. At least six people were assaulted, including a 12-year-old girl, and eight were arrested.
It all started Saturday evening. A large group of kids, upward of 200 people, gathered at Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Because gatherings like this have happened before, and this week is spring break for most grade-schoolers, Temple and Philly police deployed supplemental officers.
Officials said the group was orderly at first but eventually got out of control. There was a robbery and three assaults of varying degrees, and one person was arrested.
Then, on Sunday night, around 300 people gathered. There was another robbery and three more people were assaulted, including a 12-year-old girl. Seven juveniles close in age were arrested in connection, and a fake gun was seized.
Of the six assaulted, officials said five were Temple students.
Three people, pictured above, are wanted in connection with the incidents. Officials said more images of persons of interest will be released throughout the week.
Temple Public Safety Captain James Hennigan said responsibility falls on many different people.
“This is a community issue,” he said. “It takes police officers, city leaders, school leaders, and it also takes parents at home.”
Temple University’s Department of Public Safety said it is “committed to holding those responsible accountable.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Investigations Unit at 215-204-7178 or email investigations@temple.edu.