The streets of Times Square became a scene of panic on Thursday afternoon, when several gunshots were heard, forcing tourists and passersby to run for cover.
The incident occurred hours after the massive championship celebration parade for the NBA title won by the New York Knicks, an event that mobilized more than 10,000 officers from the New York Police Department to secure lower Manhattan.
The New York police arrested an 18-year-old minor minutes after the shooting, according to official sources.
The shooting occurred around 3:40 PM at the intersection of West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue, a spot usually crowded and where, since the beginning of the World Cup, soccer fans often gather.
Webcam footage shows how at least two people dressed in black broke into the intersection and drew weapons; they opened fire and then fled.
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The shootings in Times Square sparked panic among tourists and passersby hours after the New York Knicks parade in New York.
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Officers recovered at least one firearm and continued the search for other potential suspects. A video showed the uniformed officers in direct pursuit of the suspects, while pedestrians attempted to move away from the scene or take cover inside buildings and businesses.
The police cordoned off the area and cut off traffic, which caused disruptions on surrounding streets and affected public transport in the vicinity of West 45th Street and Eighth Avenue.
None of the official sources confirmed any fatalities. The Fire Department transported one person to the hospital, although they did not offer details regarding their condition or the nature of the injuries. The NYPD did not specify whether the episode was a targeted attack or a random incident.
Security operation following mass celebrations
The security deployment mounted during the New York Knicks parade was the largest in the recent history of the local police for a planned event, according to Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The operation included heavy weapons teams, K-9 units, agents specialized in drone neutralization, and counter-terrorism devices, in response to previous incidents during the team’s massive celebrations, which had left dozens injured and more than a hundred arrests.
The commissioner warned: “There will be no tolerance for violence and disorder”, and stressed that any infraction would be met with “swift enforcement action and immediate consequences”. The New York Police Department arrested an 18-year-old following the shooting that occurred near West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue.
Tisch maintained that there was no credible threat against the parade, although the police were maintaining special vigilance regarding the possibility of “lone wolf” type incidents.
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As part of the preventive measures, vehicular traffic was interrupted from the early hours of the morning in lower Manhattan and 23 checkpoints were established for pedestrian access.
Large bags, backpacks, umbrellas, and glass or metal bottles were prohibited; only plastic water bottles were allowed.
Repercussions and recent background in Times Square
The episode added to a series of incidents that occurred in the area during recent celebrations of the New York team. The previous weekend, a 17-year-old teenager was shot in the center of Times Square, amidst the celebrations for the team’s victory against San Antonio, when an ambulance could not enter due to the crowd.
The police continued to investigate to determine if there was a connection between the various violent incidents recorded after the celebrations.
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