Dozens of people were arrested in New York City after celebrations for the Knicks’ NBA championship turned violent and destructive, the NYPD said on Sunday.
According to police, 63 people were arrested as crowds of unruly fans flooded the streets north of Madison Square Garden and refused to leave after the Knicks defeated the Spurs in Game 5 to capture their first title since 1973.
Police estimate the crowds between Fifth Avenue and Ninth grew to tens of thousands of people. Large fights broke out, people set off fireworks, climbed on light poles and scaffolding, and blocked traffic for hours, officials said.
People destroyed five school buses by lighting fires, swinging bats and jumping on them, according to police. Hours earlier, the buses had shuttled soccer fans back from the Brazil-Morocco World Cup match in New Jersey.
People in the crowd also took bats to five NYPD vehicles and jumped on them, shattering front and back windows, officials said. They destroyed a number of personal vehicles as well.
Police said officers had to take a 17-year-old who was shot in the foot at 43rd and Broadway to the hospital because the ambulance couldn’t get through the sea of people in the street. Three people of interest were taken into custody.
Ten NYPD members were injured in the chaos, according to officials. One was punched in the face and another struck with a glass bottle.
Police also responded to four slashings/stabbings in the area, officials said.
The NYPD said it made arrests for assault on an officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration, among other charges.
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