Asia-Pacific

11 Mexico City police injured in mob attack

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-14 11:19

Police try to restrain local residents as they surround a police car holding four suspected thieves in San Lorenzo Acopilco on the outskirts of Mexico City June 13, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

MEXICO CITY - Mexico City police say 11 of their officers were injured in a melee with angry residents who wanted officers to hand over four robbery suspects to the mob.

City police say dozens of officers intervened in the western suburb of Cuajimalpa to prevent the suspects from being beaten or killed by the mob.

Hundreds of residents attacked patrol cars and pelted police with stones on Monday as the officers tried to remove the suspects from the area.

Local residents accuse the four of a liquor store robbery. Prosecutors say they are investigating.

Instances of mob violence against alleged criminals are not uncommon in rural Mexico, and have occurred occasionally in the still largely rural outskirts of the city.