An NYPD boss has slammed a group of migrant "cowards" who ganged up on two police officers in Times Square.
Chief of Patrol John Chell ripped the decision to release a fifth suspect without bail as he suggested the group should be jailed.
The gang of asylum-seekers attacked the officers on Saturday evening after the duo intervened when a vicious altercation broke out.
The decision to release the suspects has sparked criticism of New York's lenient bail laws.
Chief of Patrol John Chell ripped the decision to release a fifth suspect without bail as he suggested the group should be jailed
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It comes after suspect Jhoan Boada was caught gesturing his middle finger as he left Manhattan Criminal Court after being charged for assaulting a police officer and obstructing governmental administration.
As he left the courthouse, he muttered in Spanish: "I didn’t do nothing."
Disgusted chief Chell told reporters on Wednesday: "You have eight people attacking a lieutenant and a cop. The four that were arrested should be sitting in Rikers [Island] right now on bail.
"You want to know why our cops are getting assaulted? There are no consequences. Eight people attacked two cops. Cowards."
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Police previously arrested four of the accused thugs at the scene, identified as Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, Wilson Juarez, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24.
Two more suspects, Yohenry Brito, 24, and Jandry Barros, 21, were arrested on Wednesday night.
According to law enforcement sources, the first five men arrested are originally from Venezuela and arrived in the city late last year.
They have reportedly been living at city migrant shelters and have no work permits or known relatives in New York.
Many are now calling for harsher enforcement and accountabilityNYPD/ XMany are now calling for harsher enforcement and accountability following the New York assault which left one officer with facial cuts and the other with bruises.
Chell added: "The video speaks for itself. I’m proud of what they tried to do. They stayed in the fight, but eight on two is hard."
The suspects should face "consequences for your actions," he added. "They should be sitting in Rikers, they should be indicted this week and have their day in court and go to jail.
"You want to stop the assault on our cops? This is where it begins."