Border Patrol agent attacked
PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- A group of suspected illegal immigrants trying to sneak across the Mexican border attacked a U.S. Border Patrol agent and knocked him unconscious, officials said.
The agent, whose name was not released, was treated for a concussion and released Wednesday from University Medical Center in Tucson, said Susan Herskovits, a spokeswoman for the FBI.
She said the agent was running after a group of people suspected of illegally crossing the border Tuesday night when six immigrants attacked him in a remote desert area about two miles north of the border. He was hit several times with a rock but managed to radio for help. His attackers fled.
Border Patrol spokesman Frank Amarillas said such skirmishes are rare. More commonly, violent confrontations occur when agents encounter drug-traffickers, he said.
"Such attacks may be infrequent, but we know we can encounter any sort of criminal activity," Amarillas said.
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