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Six juveniles were arrested in Washington, D.C., following a violent assault on a woman outside Union Station, with authorities revealing the suspects were girls between 11 and 14 years old.

The Metropolitan Police Department became aware of the incident after video footage surfaced on social media platforms showing the group viciously attacking the victim, who was walking near the station. According to law enforcement, one of the young perpetrators recorded the assault while encouraging the others to continue their aggressive behavior.

When bystanders attempted to intervene, the group allegedly turned their aggression toward these Good Samaritans, though fortunately none sustained serious injuries.

Law enforcement moved swiftly, apprehending two of the suspects – an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old – on Thursday. Both juveniles were charged with multiple offenses, including assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to riot, simple assault, and disorderly conduct.

The following day, authorities detained four additional girls, all between 11 and 14 years old, charging them with assault with a dangerous weapon and rioting.

Further investigation revealed the attack may have been motivated by hate or bias, leading authorities to enhance the charges against all six suspects to include hate crime specifications alongside assault with a deadly weapon.

“I hope the swiftness of these arrests, and the consequences these young people will soon face, deters activity like this from occurring again,” stated Chief of Police Pamela Smith, who praised her detectives for their quick work in identifying and capturing the suspects.

According to local news outlet WJLA-TV, the incident possibly involved up to nine suspects and represents part of a broader pattern of juvenile crime plaguing the capital city. In another recent case, two minors robbed a passenger of his Canada Goose jacket on a Green Line train before being arrested in Maryland for additional offenses.

The situation has drawn criticism from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who expressed particular concern about juvenile offenders avoiding prosecution through diversion programs. “We have a good arrest, we make a good case. They have to be charged and put in the system,” Bowser stated. “And I’ve said repeatedly, that doesn’t mean a diversion, that doesn’t mean an unaccountable supervision program. That means we need them in the system.”

The Chief of Police emphasized the importance of guiding young residents toward positive choices, stating, “We need to continue instilling values in our youngest residents that steer them toward success and away from criminal behavior.”