WATCH: Influencer's PlayStation 5 Giveaway Announcement Causes 'Riots' On New York Streets

Thousands of people overran New York’s Union Square as the police struggled to control fans who were throwing projectiles and injuring officers.

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. ( Image Source :Getty )

An announcement made by social media influencer Kai Cenat to giveaway gifts, including PlayStation 5 game consoles, led to major chaos in New York on Friday. It all began after the 21-year-old Kai Cenat posted on Instagram and called on fans to meet him in lower Manhattan for a live-streamed event where he would hand out gifts including PlayStation 5 game consoles, as reported by AFP. Following the announcement, thousands of people overran New York’s Union Square as the police struggled to control fans who were throwing projectiles and injuring officers, as reported by the news agency Reuters.

The police, however, managed to disperse the impromptu gathering later.The New York Police took Kai Canet, who is an influencer on Twitch and Youtube, in custody, as reported by The Guardian.

New York riots continue in Union Square pic.twitter.com/pHZHlx5LTU

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) August 4, 2023

According to the BBC, people climbed cars and the roof of the train station entrance and threw bottles at police officers. During the incident, Subway trains passed the Union Square stop, as reported by CBS.

New York City is completely out of control. Kai Cenat, a popular Twitch streamer, held a giveaway that turned into a massive riot in Union Square. Police were outnumbered, and the mayor remains silent. pic.twitter.com/U4rp9nnSBr

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 4, 2023

According to the television footage and photographs, rioters can be seen surrounding and blocking vehicles, as reported by AFP. Young men kicked and smashed some of the cars also.

Large, unruly crowds causing chaos in Union Square for livestreamer Kai Cenat. The star posted about a giveaway on social media, causing thousands to go to the area. #kaicenat #unionsquare #unionsquarepark #nyc #newyorkcity #ny #nyny #newyork #breakingnews NYPD pic.twitter.com/BXhcdvZAQe

— Threads App (@threadsapp65) August 4, 2023

In a press briefing, New York City Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said that people were bleeding from their heads and faces. He further stated that a lot of young people were hurt. "People were bleeding from their heads, from their faces ... people were suffering out here," Jeffrey Maddrey said at the briefing, as quoted by AFP. "There were a lot of people, it was uncontrolled... a lot of young people got hurt."

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