Police: Chicago school children arrested for 'mob action'

CHICAGO - Authorities said that nearly two dozen Chicago children were arrested for &#34;mob action&#34; Thursday in an attack on students at a neighboring school that left 18 children cut and bruised.<br> <br> Twenty-three students from Curtis Elementary School, ages 10 to 14, allegedly punched and pushed students from Songhai Learning Institute as they walked to school. Police said the attack was in apparent retribution for a pushing match the day before.<br> <br> Police said they recovered a cracked baseball bat and a two-foot stick about 2 inches thick. Both schools are on the city&#39;s south side.<br> <br> At least two of the injured boys and girls were treated in hospitals for contusions after being hit on the head with a blunt object, hospital officials said. Most of the other 16 children, aged 12 to 15, were brought in by paramedics and had minor injuries.<br> <br> Chicago police spokesman Pat Camden said the 23 children who were arrested were named in juvenile petitions and released to their parents.<br> <br> Camden called the ages of the children disturbing, but &#34;anytime there is any type of violence involving school children, we&#39;re concerned.&#34;<br> <br> In a written statement, school officials said they were investigating the fight. A district spokeswoman did not immediately return phone calls Thursday seeking comment.

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