New York: One person was wounded in a shooting in New York City’s Times Square, according to local authorities.
Police said a suspect was taken into custody. The New York Fire Department said one person was transported to hospital. No further details were released.
The shooting occurred around 3:40 p.m. local time (1940 GMT) on Thursday, just hours after the New York Knicks’ championship parade in Lower Manhattan. Nearly 10,000 police officers had been deployed across the city for the event.
Video footage showed panic erupting in the iconic square, with crowds scattering or ducking for cover. Yelling and screams could also be heard.
Another video appeared to show at least two individuals dressed in black entering the crowded intersection and opening fire.
Police later sealed off the area with barricades and tape as they investigated, Xinhua news agency reported.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) said the area was packed with visitors attending World Cup events, many of whom have been in the city since the tournament began last week.
Videos circulating on social media showed the moment gunfire erupted, triggering panic in Times Square as tourists and bystanders rushed to take cover. Footage captured crowds scrambling for safety as the sound of shots echoed through the busy district.
Witnesses were seen fleeing the scene while the suspects ran down the street, pursued by police officers already deployed in the heavily visited area. The shooting occurred only a short distance from a parked police vehicle.
The incident comes just days after another shooting in Times Square on June 16, when celebrations following the New York Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years descended into chaos.
Shortly after the victory, videos showed gunfire breaking out in the crowded entertainment hub, forcing hundreds of fans to scatter. Separate footage appeared to show officers recovering a loaded firearm from an individual at the scene.
One widely shared video captured at least seven gunshots near the intersection of 42nd Street and Broadway, where large crowds had gathered for hours on Saturday night to mark the historic win.
A 17-year-old boy was wounded in the shooting and was transported to a hospital in a police vehicle.
(IANS)
