NEW YORK: A New York gathering called by a popular online influencer drew an unexpectedly large crowd on Aug 4 and degenerated into violence that left people injured, prompting a massive police turnout, authorities said.
It all started with a posting on Instagram from 21-year-old Kai Cenat, calling on fans to meet him in lower Manhattan for a livestreamed event where he would hand out gifts including PlayStation 5 game consoles.
Thousands of young people – at least 2,000 according to US media – gathered very quickly on Union Square and surrounding streets in the hopes of seeing Cenat, who has millions of followers on Twitch, YouTube, Instagram and other social media.
As the streets heaved, young men started throwing objects from a nearby construction site, targeting people in the crowd and the police, who were rapidly deployed in large numbers.
Television footage and news photographs showed rioters surrounding and blocking vehicles, with young men kicking and smashing some of the cars.
“People were bleeding from their heads, from their faces ... people were suffering out here,” said New York City Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey at a press briefing
“There were a lot of people, it was uncontrolled... a lot of young people got hurt.”
In the end, it took a thousand police officers to disperse the impromptu gathering.
Several people were arrested, Maddrey said. Cenat was taken in for questioning, but had not been formally detained. – AFP
People gather around and cheer for Kai Cenat (C) as members of the NYPD respond to thousands of people gathered for a ‘giveaway’ event announced by the popular Twitch livestreamer in Union Square and the surrounding area on Aug 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. — AFP
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Plates and chairs are thrown near Chelsea as members of the NYPD respond to the disruptions caused by large crowds during a "giveaway" event hosted by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Plates are thrown near Chelsea as members of the NYPD respond to the disruptions caused by large crowds during a "giveaway" event hosted by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: People climb on top of the statue in Union Square as members of the NYPD respond to the disruptions caused by large crowds during a "giveaway" event hosted by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Members of the NYPD close the Union Square Subway Station as NYPD also respond to the disruptions caused by large crowds during a "giveaway" event hosted by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: People in a window watch as NYPD chase people away from Union Square that were gathered for a "giveaway" event announced by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: People climb on cars as members of the NYPD respond to thousands of people gathered for a "giveaway" event announced by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: People gather around and cheer for Kai Cenat (C) as members of the NYPD respond to thousands of people gathered for a "giveaway" event announced by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: People gather during a "giveaway" event hosted by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
A gathering of people degenerates into riots sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who announced a "givaway" event, in New York's Union Square on August 4, 2023. A New York influencer sparked a surprise gathering of around 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday afternoon that degenerated into street violence and left a number of people injured, police announced and arrested. It all began on Friday, August 4, with a call, on Instagram, from 21-year-old African-American streamer Kai Cenat to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
A gathering of people degenerates into riots sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who announced a "givaway" event, in New York's Union Square on August 4, 2023. A New York influencer sparked a surprise gathering of around 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday afternoon that degenerated into street violence and left a number of people injured, police announced and arrested. It all began on Friday, August 4, with a call, on Instagram, from 21-year-old African-American streamer Kai Cenat to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
People stand on top of a street vendor's cart during riots sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who announced a "givaway" event, in New York's Union Square on August 4, 2023. A New York influencer sparked a surprise gathering of around 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday afternoon that degenerated into street violence and left a number of people injured, police announced and arrested. It all began on Friday, August 4, with a call, on Instagram, from 21-year-old African-American streamer Kai Cenat to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
Police officers line up tp control the crowd during riots sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who announced a "givaway" event, in New York's Union Square on August 4, 2023. A New York influencer sparked a surprise gathering of around 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday afternoon that degenerated into street violence and left a number of people injured, police announced and arrested. It all began on Friday, August 4, with a call, on Instagram, from 21-year-old African-American streamer Kai Cenat to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
People throw ceramic plates and water bottles at police officers during riots sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who announced a "givaway" event, in New York's Union Square on August 4, 2023. A New York influencer sparked a surprise gathering of around 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday afternoon that degenerated into street violence and left a number of people injured, police announced and arrested. It all began on Friday, August 4, with a call, on Instagram, from 21-year-old African-American streamer Kai Cenat to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
People throw trash bins at police officers during riots sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who announced a "givaway" event, in New York's Union Square on August 4, 2023. A New York influencer sparked a surprise gathering of around 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday afternoon that degenerated into street violence and left a number of people injured, police announced and arrested. It all began on Friday, August 4, with a call, on Instagram, from 21-year-old African-American streamer Kai Cenat to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Members of the NYPD arrest people after responding to thousands of people gathered for a "giveaway" event announced by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
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