Celebrations marking the New York Knicks’ first NBA championship in over half a century escalated into mass riots in Manhattan. Celebrants set fire to a bus used to transport fans to the World Cup, damaged several other vehicles, and blocked traffic in downtown New York.
Thousands of people took to the streets after the New York Knicks’ victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Fans poured out of packed bars and fan zones, setting off fireworks and smoke bombs.
This was the team’s first championship title since 1973. The New York Knicks had previously reached the NBA Finals twice — in 1994 and 1999 — but lost to the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively.
During the celebrations, hundreds of people surrounded a convoy of about 15 buses in Times Square. The buses were being used to transport soccer fans after the World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a draw.
According to eyewitnesses, some rioters climbed onto the roofs of the buses, broke in, and sat in the drivers’ seats. One of the yellow school buses that city officials had deployed to transport soccer fans was set on fire. At least three other buses were seriously damaged by the crowd.
In other parts of Manhattan, fans beat drums, hugged each other, and climbed onto construction scaffolding and traffic lights.