Celebrations for the New York Knicks’ championship victory descended into violent chaos overnight as rioters torched five school buses, shot a teenager, injured 10 police officers, and forced authorities to arrest 63 people in Manhattan.
Mass Destruction Sweeps Midtown Manhattan
Video footage captured flames engulfing a school bus near the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue. Police confirmed five school buses suffered damage—either set ablaze or destroyed by crowds wielding bats and physically jumping on the vehicles. The buses were being used to transport passengers from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium for World Cup games taking place in the area.
A 17-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to his foot at 43rd Street and Broadway during the celebrations. Police transported him to the hospital directly because ambulances could not reach the location through massive crowds blocking the street. Officers recovered a firearm at the scene and took three people of interest into custody, though no charges have been filed yet. Four additional slashing or stabbing incidents occurred throughout the night.
Streets Paralyzed as Crowds Refuse to Disperse
Rioters lit fireworks in densely packed crowds, climbed light poles and traffic signals, and destroyed multiple personal vehicles. Large fights erupted across Midtown as massive crowds overtook entire streets and avenues, blocking vehicular traffic for several hours. Participants refused police orders to disperse, creating dangerous conditions for both civilians and emergency responders attempting to access the area.
The NYPD reported 10 officers sustained injuries during the chaos, including one officer punched in the face and another struck with a glass bottle. The 63 arrests included charges ranging from assault on a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon to criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration.
Championship Victory Turns Into Public Safety Crisis
The destruction marks one of the most violent sports celebrations in recent New York City history. While championship victories typically draw enthusiastic crowds, the organized destruction of public transportation resources and attacks on law enforcement represent a significant escalation. The damaged school buses and blocked streets disrupted both World Cup transportation logistics and emergency service access during the overnight hours. City officials now face questions about crowd control measures and security planning for future major sporting events.
Sources
Abc7ny: Knicks celebrations: School bus set on fire, multiple people arrested, 17-year-old shot
Sounds like it’s time for the National Guard. Think anyone can get Mandami to request such? Looks like he’s in way over his head!
This is wht Mandami wants…remember, he wanted to defund the police.
Its a very sad situation, teams play hard to win for the city they play for and when they win all heck breaks loose maybe if Knicks would have lost then it would have been fine(maybe) it’s getting worse big time people are not respecting the police or security even to the point of attacking the law officers, very disgustingly sad.
It seems Manhattan should change its name to MADhattan.
And the Knicks fans to Knickggers. Not based on race. Based on bad behavior.
Animals. All of them.
Looks like it’s time to identify as many of these “people” as possible, arrest them and charge them with the felonies that they are committing. Additionally the US taxpayer should not have to give NYC any funds to help for this damage. The people of NY elected these officials and as long as they are a Sanctuary City and State they should pay to repair their own damage.
Yep.
If this is how they “celebrate” a win, I would hate to see what they would do with a loss!
They burn things!
I’m thinking NYC needs to get the Escape From New York treatment. Turn it into a high security prison for hardened violent offenders for the Planet of the Apes ending.
Until then, the people of NYC need a new Knicksname. Maybe the NY Kniggckers.
This is part of the reason I stopped watching professional sports. People lose their minds over children’s games played by overpaid athletes who do nothing to prevent these situations and I believe mostly don’t care what happens to the fans. The NYPD apparently was overwhelmed and I did not see or hear of any NY State Police or Nation Guard on the ground to assist! WHY??
Another reason I stopped watching ‘Pro-Sports’ is financial. Are the Nicks going to help pay for the damages? Owners and players are all Multi-multi-millionaires and even though these riots are not encouraged by them – they are in part responsible. No Championship – No Riots. The amount of money these franchises take in is staggering. Look at the salary of any third string professional athlete compared to the 100% VA compensation given to a vet who comes home from Military Service with no legs!
New Yorkers need to get a grip and save their city from this latest example of absolute idiocy. Where is the Mayor’s office? Where is the Governor’s office? Democrat Marxist Socialist – enough said!!!!
See how many can be identified as BLM and Antifa then arrest and prison them. That’s out of taxpayer pockets. Lable all BLM and Antifa as terrorists and begin shooting. Make protest illegal and treat as such wilh national guard and military. Our police should not be attacked doing their jobs. ENOUGH. THIS IS NOT A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
OMG! Making it political. This has nothing to do with antifascism or BLM. That comment was no more appropriate than this type of “celebration!” Geez! Wth? There are cameras everywhere in NYC. If citizens cooperate, police should be able to get every one of those who thought an appropriate way to celebrate would be to destroy property and injure people!