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.
People who witnessed the panic took to Twitter to share their videos.
The New York Police Department issued a statement about the incident in Times Square.
One user noted that US citizens have been suffering from stress following a series of mass shootings in the country in recent months.
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