Mexico State Governor Eruviel Avila promised to seek the most extreme punishment available - life in prison - for the 15 men and two women arrested in the mass rape of Christian campers. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

Police have arrested 17 people after a brutal attack on Christian campers during which at least five girls were raped.

Some 90 members of a Christian youth group were on a church-sponsored camping trip on the outskirts of Mexico City on Friday when a gang of assailants stormed the area and spent hours beating, raping and robbing the campers, authorities say.

The assailants rounded up the campers and robbed them at gunpoint. Authorities say five girls were raped and another three were sexually assaulted.

Mexico State Governor Eruviel Avila promised to seek the most extreme punishment available — life in prison — for the 15 men and two women arrested.

He also promised the government would provide medical, psychological and legal assistance to the victims, Mexican newspaper Milenio reports.

Two of the accused are police officers, and one is a former solider.

The attorney general of the State of Mexico, Alfredo Castillo, said victims identified 11 of those arrested and many of them had campers’ stolen goods in their homes.

Avila said six have already confessed.

Authorities claim the attack isn’t related to organized crime.