Chaos in Manhattan After Knicks End 53-Year Title Drought

Thousands of New York Knicks fans flooded Manhattan on Sunday morning after the team won its first NBA championship in 53 years, beating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the finals. What began as a historic celebration around Madison Square Garden and toward Times Square quickly spiraled into scenes of vandalism, clashes with police, vehicle takeovers, arson, and reports of gunfire.

Police said buses from the city transit authority were vandalized and set on fire, and groups of fans also seized two school buses and another transit bus. Videos from the scene showed people climbing on a police vehicle, smashing its windshield, tearing parts off an engine cover, and later burning the bus. Another clip showed officers subduing a fan outside the arena and moving several others away from the area.

A shooting was reported in Times Square during the unrest, apparently with no injuries, and one suspect was arrested. The arrested man was seen handcuffed and taken away, then later appearing to be released and told to move onto the sidewalk. In a separate unusual incident, a San Antonio Spurs fan climbed into a police cruiser in an apparent effort to escape the crowd surrounding it.

As the disturbances spread, hundreds of police officers in riot gear were sent in to clear West 31st Street, making several arrests and forcing people to the ground. Mounted police were also deployed at key intersections. One officer told the New York Post that in 20 years of service he had never had to wear riot equipment, adding that he had not seen this level of police protection on New York streets since the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional celebrations were reported near Bryant Park, where smoke and flares were seen and fans climbed poles, vehicles and buildings, with one fire lit on a nearby street.