The New York City Police Department (NYPD) stated that last Friday evening, more than a dozen teenage gang members associated with the Venezuelan criminal group “Tren de Aragua” launched a violent attack in Times Square, targeting two police officers.
According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s briefing to the media on the 6th, around 7:30 p.m. last Friday in the area of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, patrol officers, just one block away from a highly anticipated boxing match, discovered a group of about 10 to 12 people surrounding three others.
When the officers attempted to intervene in the youth gang assault, the group suddenly turned to attack the law enforcement officers, throwing bottles and causing a disturbance. Tisch pointed out that these suspects, mostly immigrants, are members of a gang called “Los Diablos 42,” which is considered a notorious branch of the infamous Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua.”
Police revealed that many suspects are under 18 years old, with some as young as 12. Some of them reside in immigrant shelters in New York City, with one individual living at the Roosevelt Hotel.
Currently, four suspects have been detained, while about seven others remain at large. The arrested individuals face charges including rioting, attempting to attack law enforcement officers, and illegal possession of weapons. Authorities mentioned that some suspects have been involved in a series of robberies in Central Park last summer, as well as having previous records of theft and robbery.
The NYPD issued a statement condemning the attack, emphasizing that “attacks on police officers are absolutely intolerable,” while commending the swift actions of the investigative personnel in arresting multiple suspects the day after the incident.
Mayor Eric Adams also released a statement in response, stating, “We are very clear: we will not tolerate anyone attacking the symbols of our public safety (police).”
The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges law enforcement faces in ensuring public safety and addressing criminal activities within the city. The authorities continue to conduct investigations and are committed to maintaining the rule of law and protecting the well-being of all residents and visitors in New York City.