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Knicks Title Celebration Near Madison Square Garden Turns Violent

The scale of the disorder exposed limits in emergency access and has prompted a broad NYPD investigation.

Overview

  • Celebratory crowds that swelled to tens of thousands near Madison Square Garden on Saturday night turned destructive, with large fights, fireworks and people climbing on street fixtures.
  • The NYPD said 63 people were arrested and three people of interest are in custody as officers cleared the area and opened an investigation into the unrest.
  • A 17-year-old was shot in the foot and taken to hospital by officers because an ambulance could not reach him, and police also reported four slashings or stabbings in the vicinity.
  • Rioters destroyed five school buses by lighting fires and jumping on them and damaged several NYPD and private vehicles while ten officers were injured during confrontations with the crowd.
  • The celebration followed the Knicks' first NBA title since 1973 and overlapped with World Cup shuttle buses, creating unusual crowding that city officials say complicated emergency response and policing.