Fifteen Rikers Island inmates have been indicted on charges they assaulted a Department of Correction Captain, the Bronx district attorney's office said Thursday.

Bronx DA Darcel Clark characterized the incident as "an orchestrated, retaliatory attack."

The DA's office says Captain Awais Ghauri was attacked on Thanksgiving Day "in a show of gang power."

One of the defendants, Jason Reid, is accused of gathering the defendants together and coordinating an attack on Ghauri. The Bronx DA says video shows Reid leading the attack, which occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. They also say surveillance video shows the defendants meeting approximately 90 minutes before the attack.

Ghauri had used pepper spray to diffuse a fight between inmates three weeks earlier, according to the Bronx DA, who says Reid threatened to assault Ghauri after he used the pepper spray.

The Bronx DA says the charges against the 15 defendants include first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted gang assault and first-degree riot, among others.

Seven of the defendants were arraigned Tuesday. Eight were expected to be arraigned Thursday.