Police and Mexico City have clashed with an angry mob demanding officers hand over four suspected criminals.

Mexico City police say 11 of their officers were injured during the melee with hundreds of angry residents

Police rescued the suspected criminals from possibly being beaten or killed by the mob in the district of Cuajimalpa.

Residents attacked police cars and pelted police with stones Monday as the police tried to remove the suspects from the area. Riot police dispersed the crowd with tear gas.

One witness said residents were fed up and wanted to take justice into their own hands.

Instances of mob violence against alleged criminals is not uncommon in rural Mexico.