Gunfire in Times Square Prompts Police Response, One Hospitalised
A shooting incident occurred in New York's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, sending crowds fleeing and leading to a police pursuit. The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed that one person was taken to hospital, though their condition remains undisclosed.
The incident took place at approximately 3:40 p.m. local time, shortly after a parade celebrating the New York Knicks' NBA championship win moved through lower Manhattan. The area was also crowded with visitors attending the FIFA World Cup, which began the previous week.
Police reported that a suspect was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. The suspect was chased down by officers already on patrol in the area. No further details about the suspect or a possible motive have been released.
Video footage shared on social media captured the moment shots rang out, showing tourists and bystanders scrambling for cover. The shooting occurred just metres from a parked police vehicle.
This is the second shooting in Times Square within a week. On June 14, during celebrations of the Knicks' NBA title, two suspects fired handguns into a crowd near Broadway and West 43rd Street. A 17-year-old boy was struck in the foot and taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Three people were arrested in connection with that incident. During those celebrations, five school buses used to shuttle fans to World Cup matches were set on fire or destroyed, and 63 people were arrested, with ten police officers injured.
The back-to-back incidents raise questions about crowd security as New York hosts large crowds for the FIFA World Cup, with matches being played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Times Square, a major tourist destination, has now experienced gunfire twice within five days.
