The New York Knicks secured a victory in the NBA Finals for the first time in over five decades. This historic win sparked violent scenes in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
On Saturday night (local time), the celebration turned violent as thousands of frenzied fans took to the streets. During the chaos, a teenager was shot in Times Square, and a shuttle bus—which had just dropped off spectators from a World Cup match—was set on fire.
Following the New York Knicks’ incredible performance and championship win—their first since 1973—thousands of supporters poured out of bars and open spaces, chanting and filling the streets. Many were seen setting off fireworks and smoke grenades.
Attack on World Cup Shuttle Bus
Amidst the wild celebrations of basketball fans, a fleet of 15 shuttle buses—returning after dropping off spectators from the World Cup football match between Brazil and Morocco in Times Square—became trapped. Hundreds of young people climbed onto the buses, with some even occupying the driver’s seats.
Fans celebrate the New York Knicks’ championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Young fans of the team climbed onto shuttle buses carrying spectators returning from the Brazil vs. Morocco World Cup match.
At one point, a yellow school bus—chartered by the New York City government—was set on fire. A Reuters journalist witnessed the bus engulfed in flames. Three other buses also sustained severe damage.
People were seen climbing onto the buses and waving flags in support of the Brazilian football team. Youssef Sabbar (49), a Moroccan-Canadian citizen who had attended the Brazil match, remarked that the fans were simply expressing their joy; he noted that such behavior—even if somewhat violent—occurs everywhere in the world when a team wins. Gunshots and Violence
A New York police officer told Reuters that a 17-year-old boy was shot in the leg around 2:00 AM amidst the celebrations in Times Square. Three individuals have been taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in the incident. A man was also seen walking through the crowd with a bloodied face, though the cause of his injury remained unknown.
Carol Marino, a real estate agent in her fifties who had just left a bar after watching the game, remarked, “It feels like twenty New Year’s Eve celebrations rolled into one.”
Riot police and mounted officers began using batons to bring the situation under control.
Crowds of Knicks and Spurs fans gathered in New York’s Times Square for the fifth game of the NBA Finals.
After exercising restraint for nearly two hours, police officers raised their batons and chased the fans to clear the streets. The roads surrounding Madison Square Garden were cordoned off.
Dean and Christina Smiros, a New York couple who have been lifelong Knicks fans, said, “This is the first time the team has won like this in our lifetime; we are overjoyed.” Although the New York Knicks had reached the finals previously in 1994 and 1999, they had lost to the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively.
