RIOT Declared in Times Square - Palestine vs Israel Protesters - Extended Cut

Brawls broke out during pro-Israel rally and pro-Palestine counter-protest this afternoon in Times Square. Dozens of fights and Arrests.

Police chased protesters through the streets as they tried to keep the two sides apart. Trash cans, plants and barricades were thrown, while some of the Pro-Palestine protesters continuously fixed the things that were knocked over, at one point a rack of sunglasses was pulled down, some protesters returned the glasses and apologized to the store owner.

The event scheduled was a Pro-Israel rally.

One man is now in custody after a Jewish man was assaulted during yesterday’s demonstration in Times Square.

23-year-old Waseem Awawdeh of Brooklyn, was taken into custody in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday night, he was charged with assault as a hate crime, gang assault, menacing, aggravated harassment as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon said police.

During the demonstration, before the pro-Israel group appeared, there was a heavy NYPD presence, they set up barricades and were all around the area. When Pro-Israel rally began and the counter protest appeared minutes after, we did not see police presence readily available. Fights broke out minutes later and police detained multiple people on both sides.