Police have started an investigation into suspicion of grievous bodily harm after a 50-year-old man was injured early Thursday. According to police, several young people followed and beat the man up in downtown Kaiserslautern. (Jochen Tack/Police)

A 50-year-old man was injured after several young people followed and beat him up in downtown Kaiserslautern, according to police. Around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, the man, who had been drinking, tried to avoid a confrontation after the suspects approached him in the Schillerplatz area. He ran toward city hall, but the suspects caught up with him, attacked him from behind and knocked him to the ground, Kaiserslautern police said. The suspects continued to beat and kick him while he lay on the ground. The man could not say how many attackers there were but was hospitalized with several injuries. Police have started an investigation into suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Witnesses who may have observed the incident are asked to contact Kaiserslautern police at 0631-369-2150.