When a crowd is attacked from the front and both flanks, forcing them to retreat, what is this tactic called?

The tactic described in the question involves attacking a crowd from multiple directions—specifically from the front and both flanks—leading to a forced retreat. This is referred to as a "pincer movement."

In military strategy, a pincer movement is a maneuver that aims to surround or encircle an enemy force, attacking from two sides simultaneously, which can overwhelm and destabilize the target. By striking from both flanks while maintaining pressure from the front, the attacking force effectively closes in on the enemy, which can lead to confusion and a breakdown of their defensive structure. This tactic maximizes the effectiveness of the attacking forces and exploits the vulnerabilities in the enemy's position.

Other options involve different strategic concepts. A flanking maneuver implies attacking from one side rather than the front and both sides, while an encirclement tactic typically entails surrounding the enemy completely rather than just attacking concurrently from the front and sides. The split formation approach suggests a tactical division but does not align as closely with the simultaneous multi-directional attack indicated in the question.