Hundreds of people could be seen running in panic for their lives in New York's Times Square just before 10 pm on Tuesday after hearing the loud noise of a motorcycle backfiring and confusing it with gunshots.
Passing through #NYC’s #TimesSquare, 1hr after this sound sent 1000s running for their lives, in fear of another mass shooting. Accounts of people trampled, hiding in stores, separated from their families. Authorities confirm it was a motorcycle backfire. This is no way to live. pic.twitter.com/GU2zrJfUv5
— Andrew Hodge 🇺🇸 (@andruhodge) August 7, 2019
People who witnessed the panic took to Twitter to share their videos.
Motorcycles backfiring trigger panic at Times Square in New York City; police confirm there is no active shooter pic.twitter.com/Gsqs3ysUNY
— BNO News (@BNONews) August 7, 2019
People fleeing and hiding from #timessquare after suspected live shooter #NewYork we caught this from our hotel bar 10th floor #police confirmed this was not a live shooter #timessquare #NYC pic.twitter.com/IKfagFbtzy
— The Daniels Group (@DanielsGrp) August 7, 2019
The New York Police Department issued a statement about the incident in Times Square.
There is no #ActiveShooter in #TimesSquare. Motorcycles backfiring while passing through sounded like gun shots.
— NYPD Midtown North (@NYPDMTN) August 7, 2019
We are receiving multiple 911 calls. Please don’t panic. The Times Square area is very safe! @NYPDnews @NYPDTimesSquare
One user noted that US citizens have been suffering from stress following a series of mass shootings in the country in recent months.
Sadly this is exactly how a traumatized nation looks like! #TimesSquare #NewYork https://t.co/p8WCpVWf6Z
— Rahel-Esther (@rahel_esther) August 7, 2019
She was echoed by another netizen who said that people in the US live in fear.
Was on W 45th Street just as plays getting out. Crowds running from #timessquare. No evidence of #activeshooter. Plenty of evidence of fear in USA
— Tim Rockey (@Rkysundevil) August 7, 2019
