Masked Mob Erupts in Lower Manhattan, Attacks ICE Officers in Social Media-Fueled Riot
Chaos erupted in Lower Manhattan on Saturday as a coordinated mob of hundreds, many clad in black with masks and goggles, violently clashed with law enforcement near a federal building. The incident, which occurred during ongoing ICE operations in Chinatown, saw rioters hurling trash cans, recycling bins, and debris at officers while attempting to block ICE vehicles with large potted plants and barricades. The NYPD confirmed multiple arrests after the agitators, who had organized via social media, ignored repeated orders to disperse, turning the streets near Centre and Howard into a scene of lawlessness.
According to ICE Public Affairs Assistant Director Emily Covington, the protest was a premeditated attack on federal officers. “When individuals broadcast the location of ICE, they are putting a target on the backs of officers,” Covington stated, revealing a staggering 1,150% increase in assaults against ICE personnel and an 8,000% rise in death threats. She emphasized that the agency was targeted while performing its duty to arrest “criminal illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists.”
Despite the violent confrontation, officials remain steadfast. Covington expressed gratitude for the NYPD’s swift response, which ultimately quelled the riot and allowed for the arrests. Vowing that such lawlessness would not impede their work, she issued a firm warning: “We will never apologize for enforcing the law… and anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The total number of individuals taken into custody has not yet been released by the NYPD.
