500 youths in beach mugging

A gang of about 500 youths mugged and assaulted people on a beach in Portugal, injuring at least five people, police said.

The youths, between the ages of 12 and 20, assaulted people on the Carcavelos beach on Friday afternoon.

Three civilians and two police officers were taken to a hospital for treatment of bruises and other minor injuries, police said.

Four police officers were patrolling the beach at the time of the incident and called for backup.

About 60 officers were sent to the beach, which is about nine miles east of Lisbon.

Police arrested four people, commanding officer Oliveira Pereira told reporters.

Police announced today that the area’s regular police patrol would be boosted to 22 officers.