Knicks title celebrations turn violent as 63 arrested in NYC

New York City's celebrations after the New York Knicks secured their first NBA championship in 53 years erupted into violence and disorder, with a teenager shot, four people stabbed, five school buses set ablaze and dozens arrested across the city.

The Knicks clinched the NBA title with a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center in Texas on June 13, sparking massive celebrations that spilled into the streets of all five boroughs, as per People. Thousands of fans gathered around Madison Square Garden and other parts of Manhattan, but authorities said the festivities quickly turned destructive.

According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), crowds numbering in the tens of thousands became increasingly unruly during and after the game, leading to numerous violent incidents and widespread property damage.

Among the most serious incidents was the shooting of a 17-year-old near Broadway and 43rd Street. Police said the area was so heavily crowded that an ambulance was unable to reach the victim, forcing officers to transport the teenager to hospital themselves. Authorities have taken three people of interest into custody and recovered a firearm from the scene.

Police also reported four separate stabbing and slashing incidents, along with multiple large-scale fights throughout the night. Ten NYPD officers were injured while responding to disturbances. One officer was struck by a glass bottle, while another was punched in the face.

The unrest extended beyond personal injuries and resulted in significant damage to public and private property. Five school buses being used to transport visitors between New York City and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for World Cup matches were attacked, set on fire and destroyed.

Authorities said individuals used bats to damage the buses while others climbed onto the vehicles before they were engulfed in flames.

One passenger, Youssef Sabbr, who exited a World Cup transport bus before it was surrounded by crowds, described the scenes as chaotic.

"They are expressing their happiness, a little bit violently, but it is what it is," Sabbr told Reuters. "That's what happens everywhere around the world when a team wins."

Five NYPD vehicles also suffered extensive damage as people struck them with bats and jumped on top of them. Several other vehicles across the city were vandalised, with shattered windows and other destruction reported.

Videos circulating on social media showed fans climbing traffic lights and structures, lighting fireworks in packed crowds, dancing in the streets and chanting "Knicks in five!" as celebrations continued into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Witness Carol Marino compared the atmosphere to an amplified New Year's Eve celebration.

"Oh, my God. It's like New Year's Eve times 20," she told Reuters.

The NYPD said officers made 63 arrests between June 13 and June 14 in connection with incidents related to the championship celebrations. Charges included assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and other offences.

Despite the unrest, the Knicks' championship victory marked a historic moment for the franchise, ending a 53-year wait for an NBA title and triggering celebrations unlike anything the city had experienced in decades.