Knicks fans celebrating the NBA championship in New York overnight Sunday turned Times Square into a scene of destruction, vandalizing multiple school buses and torching one, according to video circulated on social media. Rioters were seen tearing parts off buses, smashing beer bottles, and dancing on vehicle roofs.
Just after the New York Knicks secured the NBA title, thousands of fans poured into Times Square for spontaneous celebrations that descended into widespread vandalism overnight Sunday. Video circulated on social media shows rioters tearing metal panels off school buses, smashing beer bottles on the asphalt, and climbing onto vehicle roofs. One bus was set completely ablaze after fans tossed burning clothing into it, while others danced on its roof. The New York Police Department has not issued a statement on arrests or injuries as of 11:07 Jerusalem time.
As The Zioneer reported at 11:02 Jerusalem, earlier in the night a separate incident during the celebrations saw a fan of the opposing team barricade himself inside a police vehicle and cars were torched. The overnight rampage in Times Square appears to be a distinct, larger outbreak of violence.
It remains unclear whether any Palestinian or political flags were displayed during the Times Square riot — an earlier, far smaller disturbance on June 11 reportedly involved Knicks fans waving a Palestinian flag. No fatalities have been reported from the overnight chaos.
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