Knicks Championship Celebrations Turn Violent, Damaging World Cup Buses

Celebrations for the New York Knicks' NBA championship victory on Saturday night escalated into riots that left five school buses destroyed, including at least one that was set on fire. The buses were part of a fleet of 150 school buses allocated by the city to transport fans for the 2026 World Cup. Originally planned to carry about 10,000 fans, the project received $6 million in funding.

Tens of thousands of fans took to the streets of Manhattan after the Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals. During the unrest, a 17-year-old was shot near the intersection of Broadway and 43rd Street. Emergency services initially could not reach him because streets were blocked by revelers.

Police arrested 63 people overnight on charges including assault on police officers, weapons possession, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and interfering with governmental administration.

A spokesperson for the New York and New Jersey World Cup organizing committee stated that the buses were empty at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported. The spokesperson added that the damage would not affect future transportation services for World Cup matches and fan events.