81-Year-Old Fights Off Hong Kong Teen Muggers

An 81-year-old man in Hong Kong single-handedly fought off a gang of teenage muggers, police said Monday, with eight youths arrested and some requiring hospital treatment.

The elderly man, only identified as Mak, was assaulted by the gang aged between 15 and 19 in a pedestrian tunnel during the 4:00 am incident when he was on his way to do morning exercise. He was attacked from behind.

"They pushed him to the ground and tried to rob him. The man fought back and the gang ran away empty-handed," a police spokeswoman told Agence France Presse.

Some of the teenage muggers, five boys and three girls, sustained cuts and minor injuries after the man put up a fierce fight. Police later traced a trail of blood to a nearby flat and detained the teenagers.

The injured were taken to hospital for treatment.

"They are still being detained and under investigation for assault with intent to rob," the police spokeswoman said.