Social media rumors of child abductions by members of the Roma ethnic minority have sparked a wave of violence in France, although authorities have dismissed the claims as baseless, reports CNN.
French police called for calm Monday and said crowds had been attacking people they believed were responsible for the rumored abductions.
In a tweet, police said rumors of a white van driving around the Paris suburbs of Nanterre and Colombes attempting to snatch young women had resulted in the false accusation and "lynching" of two people.
"Do not share this false information," the police tweet continued.
The pair were left with minor injuries after an attack involving around 20 people on March 16, the AFP news agency reported.
Police said the rumors were "completely unfounded" and "no kidnapping has been confirmed" in another tweet Tuesday.