People fled New York City’s Times Square on Monday night after an engine backfired, sounding to many like gunshots.
Screams echoed across the busy plaza as crowds of people began fleeing the area, some yelling warning of an active shooter. Police that responded to the area confirmed that the loud sounds came from a motorcycle backfiring.
“There is no #ActiveShooter in #TimesSquare. Motorcycles backfiring while passing through sounded like gun shots,” the New York Police Department tweeted. “We are receiving multiple 911 calls. Please don’t panic. The Times Square area is very safe!”
There is no #ActiveShooter in #TimesSquare. Motorcycles backfiring while passing through sounded like gun shots.
We are recieving multiple 911 calls. Please don’t panic. The Times Square area is very safe! @NYPDnews @NYPDTimesSquare
— NYPD Midtown North (@NYPDMTN) August 7, 2019
Eight people suffered minor injuries in the chaos and six were taken to a hospital for evaluation.
The shooting scare comes after a deadly weekend when over 30 people died in mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas.
