ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, April 21 (UPI) -- Russian youths blowing bubbles were attacked by a group of suspected neo-Nazis who mistook them for gay pride demonstrators, authorities in St. Petersburg say.
Organizers of the annual bubble-blowing flash mob to celebrate spring say about 30 men ran up to the youths and started beating them and firing rubber bullets, The Moscow Times reported Wednesday.
Several youths fell to the ground before the attackers fled just as riot police arrived. At least one attacker was detained along with some 30 bubble blowers who were accused of walking on the grass.
The annual flash mob, known as "Dream Flash" and "Soapy Peter," is a non-political event that mostly attracts teenagers.
It took place on Sunday in St. Petersburg's Alexandrovsky Park.
Several days before this year's event gay activists began advertising that a gay pride event would be held during the flash mob, a flash mob organizer said.
