A pair of tourists are recovering after they were beaten and robbed while walking down the street in Market East shortly after Fourth of July festivities wrapped up.
Philadelphia detectives are searching for the group of teens who were caught on surveillance video carrying out the attack.
The victims, 18-year-old and 23-year-old men, were walking along the 1100 block of Filbert Street at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday when the first punch was thrown, police said. SEPTA's Jefferson Station, Reading Terminal Market, several hotels and the Greyhound Station are all in that same area.
Several teens started punching the men in the face and head. As they lay on the ground, the robbers then take the victim's cellphones and wallets.
Ahmad Zada was working the counter at the Crown Fried Chicken restaurant that's nearby and rushed out to help the victims.
"I go outside to pick up the guy...they were really scared," Zada said Thursday. He said it appeared the men were visiting from abroad.
Zada said while he was outside, several of the teens involved in the attack came back into the restaurant from the other direction and ordered sodas. Their return was caught on surveillance video. They left without being caught.
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An ambulance was dispatched to take the victims to Hahnemann University Hospital. One man suffered a broken nose and cuts to his face while the other man's eye was sliced.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the crime tipline at 215-686-TIPS.
