New York (AFP) – New York police said Thursday that 56 people were taken into custody as unrest broke out during game four of the NBA Finals, which saw the Knicks snatch a stunning comeback against the San Antonio Spurs. Ten NYPD officers were injured in the disorder late Wednesday, including one who was struck in the head by a glass bottle, a force spokesperson told AFP. Authorities have brought charges including assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct, and possession of a knife.
Video posted on social media showed hostile fans jeering Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio teammates as they returned to their hotel on Wednesday night, with at least one egg tossed in the direction of the Spurs’ French superstar. The hotel was a few blocks from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, where most of the unrest unfolded after the game played out before a sellout crowd that included US megastar Taylor Swift. Police estimated that some 10,000 fans were gathered around the venue. People climbed onto moving vehicles, tried to flip over a taxi, and set off fireworks in the crowd, according to the NYPD.
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An AFP photographer saw law enforcement use stun grenades to try to disperse the crowds near Madison Square Garden. “Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the NYPD said. On Monday, during game three of the NBA Finals that US President Donald Trump attended, police detained 21 people in New York. Four police officers were injured.
Spurs fans in the city were also targeted during the game, which Wembanyama condemned as “unacceptable.” Fearing further unrest on Wednesday, authorities had banned planned public screenings near Madison Square Garden—a break from the first two playoffs. The Knicks now have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series, which shifts back to San Antonio for game five on Saturday.
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