New York Knicks followers riot as bus in flames, gunshots fired and police automotive broken
Thousands of New York Knicks fans flooded the streets of New York City to celebrate the team’s first NBA Finals victory since 1973, but celebrations turned chaotic
New York Knicks fans took over several buses, one of which was later in flames(Image: AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Rowdy Knicks supporters have caused chaos on the streets of New York City as people ran from gunshots, buses were on fire and a police car was attacked. Footage on social media even captured the moment a man attacked a yellow school bus with what looked like a scooter.
The individual, who remains unidentified, was spotted battering the bus with the scooter just hours after the New York Knicks secured the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in a dramatic Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. It was bedlam on Broadway as the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years.
Outside Madison Square Garden, a crowd watching on a big screen roared as the Knicks rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Scenes of celebration quickly turned ugly with gunshots being fired and people clashing with police as damage was caused.
Around 2am., gunshots were fired near 42nd Street and Broadway, police said. Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots and showed people crouching and running for cover. Preliminary reports indicated no one was injured, police said.
In footage shared on X, the man could be seen pounding the front of the bus while the excited crowd egged him on.
Fellow Knicks supporters later surrounded the man as NYPD officers arrived on the scene. The video doesn’t make clear whether the individual was detained, as the footage switches to show another person who had grabbed the scooter to carry on the assault while people perched on the bonnet.
It remains unclear why the group were targeting the school bus initially, given that several Knicks fans were positioned on top of it. The situation escalated further when multiple people chose to ignite flares atop the vehicle.
In footage posted to X, the group with flares caused no harm with them, but instead danced about and marked the team’s triumph, reports the Mirror US.
“Nothing says ‘we’ll fight for the playoffs’ like a fireworks show on a school bus, hope the Knicks bring the same spark to the court,” one person remarked. Another individual suggested that matters were spiralling out of control.
“These scenes in Times Square are getting out of hand. Climbing on a school bus and setting off flares in a crowded area isn’t a celebration-it’s dangerous and reckless,” the person said. “NYPD needs to shut this down before someone gets seriously hurt.”
Soon after, rowdy fans were clashing with police, smashing windshields, scaling scaffolding, light poles and a statue, climbing into and atop school buses in Times Square and trying to hitch a ride on a moving fire truck. Later, one of the buses was engulfed in flames.
An NYPD patrol car was vandalised after crowds assembled near Madison Square Garden during a New York Knicks match, according to footage and reports spreading across social media. Video clips shared online appeared to show several individuals clambering onto and leaping on top of a marked police car — which was unoccupied at the time — and smashing or severely damaging its windscreen as vast crowds packed the surrounding streets.
The incident allegedly took place close to Madison Square Garden, where supporters had congregated during the match. No immediate details were available concerning injuries, detentions, or the scale of the vehicle’s damage.
The NYPD said there were multiple arrests but wouldn’t have a total until later on Sunday.
Further footage shows NYPD officers confronting disorderly members of the crowd. One clip shows uniformed officers restraining a man while repeatedly urging members of the mob to step back.
Other footage shows the crowds yelling and chanting as celebrants mark the basketball team’s victory over the Spurs in Game 5. The clip goes on to show revellers attempting to push closer to a police cordon.
A third video was shared on social media showing officers rushing to form a barrier as the crowd became rowdy and people started leaping on cars. The triumph for the Knicks is the first since 1973, prompting thousands of supporters to pour onto New York’s streets as they mark the massive victory.
Clips shared on social media showed fans scaling street poles, dancing on vehicles and chanting “Let’s Go Knicks” as crowds extended for blocks around Midtown. The festivities had been mounting for weeks as New York edged within reach of a championship that many supporters had never witnessed in their lifetime.
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