A group of off-duty cops was attacked by a violent mob after they were recognized at a nightclub in France over the weekend, according to reports.
The disturbing incident unfolded at around 5 a.m. on Sunday in Aix-en-Provence, a city in southern France.
Five officers of the Compagnies républicaines de sécurité (CRS), an arm of the French National Police specializing in riot control, were enjoying at night off at Le Mistral discotheque when they ran into serious trouble.
As they exited the club, they were ambushed by crowd of more than a dozen assailants who had recognized them inside, France Blue reports.
The mob hurled paving stones and other projectiles at the officers, seriously wounding at least four of them.
"In Aix-en-Provence, 5 off-duty police officers were recognized by 15 barbarians in the street," Matthieu Valet, spokesman of the Independent Union of Commissioners of Police, wrote on social media.
"These thugs savagely lynched our colleagues with cobblestones, because they wanted to get a cop!"
Ces 5 courageux #CRS souffrent de nombreuses blessures: multiples fractures, traumatismes crâniens.
— Matthieu Valet (@mvalet_officiel) July 10, 2022
Je leur ai apporté tous mon soutien et souhaité tous mes vœux de prompts rétablissements.
En #France, en 2022 parce qu’on est #policier, on est une cible !
On en peut plus!
The officers reportedly suffered a range of injuries, including multiple fractures, a broken foot, a broken nose, and head trauma.
"The police officers had a normal evening like other young people going to a nightclub," said Rudy Manna of the Alliance police union.
"They were literally attacked by a wild horde because they were police officers."
Two suspects were quickly arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
The revolution will not be televised.
(PHOTO: Screenshots / Twitter)