BEIRUT: Lebanon said on Sunday it has arrested two policemen after videos showing officers beating extremist militants held in prison caused outrage in the country.

At least two short videos went viral on social media overnight. One shows a number of inmates crouching on the floor in Lebanon’s largest prison, their hands tied behind their backs and facing a wall.

They were stripped shirtless. One of the policemen appears to be beating them with a rod. The backs of several inmates turned dark red.

Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said the incidents occurred two months ago when police raided Roumieh prison, in east Beirut, to end a riot that broke out at a building where militants are held.

He told a news conference called to address the videos that six policemen, from more than 500 who raided the prison, were involved. Two officers have already been referred to a military court while the others are yet to be identified, he said.

Machnouk said he would take all measures against those who committed the abuse, as well as their superiors.

A statement from the families of the prisoners said their men were not only stripped for days, the pounding blinded some of the prisoners, broke bones, and dislocated shoulders.