Five NYPD cops are injured trying to break-up a massive brawl in Manhattan sparked by teenagers who attacked a cab driver they said ran over their 16-year-old friend
- Fights started in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, Thursday after a student, 16, claimed to be clipped by a New York taxi
- Video that emerged later showed the student had run into the cab
- Cab driver said he was terrified when students jumped on his car
- The injured teen was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries
- At least five police officers suffered minor injuries during the clash
Five police officers have been injured as they tried to separate a Manhattan melee after high school pupils attacked a cab driver they thought had clipped their friend.
The chaos erupted in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, where the teens believed the driver had struck a 16-year-old with his vehicle – video that emerged later would prove otherwise.
Footage allegedly shows the teenager running out onto 52nd Street and 8th Avenue, where he then crashes into the taxi on Thursday at around 2.40pm.
A large group of students then tried to break into the cab to attack the driver and instead kicked and punched the vehicle, an NYPD spokesperson told PIX11.
They ignored police orders to stop and disperse, before going onto attack officers, five of whom suffered minor injuries.
There are currently four Manhattan High School students in custody after being arrested for assault.
At least one person was seen being tackled to the ground by police in the Manhattan melee that took place outside a high school
Large crowds could be seen gathered around the chaotic scenes in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, where students had clashed with police. One person could be seen lying on the floor being looked at by a police officer
The shocking scenes show officers being ‘collectively go after certain individuals,’ one eyewitness told the site.
The person explained that after emergency medical services arrived on the scene some of the student’s friend appeared unhappy with the response.
Other brawls then began to erupt elsewhere according to Raheem Ford, who said: ‘Something escalated over here…Ya’ know, a few things popped off in a few areas.’
One occurred when students tried to attack cab driver Badal Roy and began jumping on his car.
‘I was feeling unsafe. I didn’t get out of the car. I locked the door and stayed inside. I was helpless. I called the police, Roy told New York Daily News.
‘Who can pay for this damage? I do not own this car, this car belongs to a garage,’ he added.
The injured 16-year-old who claimed to have been hit by the taxi was taken to Mount Sinai West hospital with non-life threatening injuries and was said to be in a stable condition.
FDNY reported that seven people were injured, of whom five were NPYD. Another suffered minor injuries after pepper spray was deployed.
All of the teens who were brought into custody were juveniles and at the time of publishing no charges were pending against the driver or any of the teens.
One person could be seen receiving treatment from emergency services (above)