NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The NYPD is searching for multiple young suspects in connection with last Friday's riot in Union Square that has already led to dozens of arrests.
The NYPD released images over the weekend of two groups of people they're searching for.
The first group of eight males damaged an NYPD vehicle by kicking and jumping on it while it was parked in front of 838 Broadway around 3:30 p.m., according to police.
The second group is wanted for causing damage to vehicles by kicking and jumping on them in the area of East 14th Street and Union Square East around 3:50 p.m., police said.
Social media influencer Kai Cenat faces charges of inciting a riot and promoting an unlawful gathering after the online streamer drew thousands of his followers, many of them teens, to Union Square on Friday afternoon with promises of giving away electronics, including a new PlayStation 5.
The event produced chaos, with dozens of people arrested — some jumping atop vehicles, hurling bottles and throwing punches.
Cenat was released early Saturday from police custody after being issued a desk appearance ticket, which police issue to require a suspect to appear in court to answer charges. A police spokesperson said he is to appear in court on Aug. 18.
The mayhem put further focus on the hold social media influencers have on the people who follow and fawn over them.
Cenat, 21, is a video creator with 6.5 million followers on the platform Twitch, where he regularly livestreams. He also boasts 4 million subscribers on YouTube, where he posts daily life and comedy vlogs ranging from “Fake Hibachi Chef Prank!” to his most recent video, “I Rented Us Girlfriends In Japan!”
His 299 YouTube videos have amassed more than 276 million views among them. In December, he was crowned streamer of the year at the 12th annual Streamy Awards.
“Our children cannot be raised by social media," Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday during a press briefing on an unrelated crime.
Police said they arrested 65 people, including 30 juveniles. Several people were injured, including some with bloodied faces. At least four people were taken away in ambulances.
“I don’t think people realize the level of discipline that we showed to take a very dangerous, volatile situation and to be able to bring it to a level of resolve without any loss of life or any substantial damage to property and without young people harming themselves," Adams said.
Aerial TV news footage showed a surging, tightly packed crowd running through the streets, scaling structures in Union Square Park and snarling traffic. Shouting teenagers swung objects at car windows, threw paint cans and set off fire extinguishers. Some people climbed on a moving vehicle, falling off as it sped away. Others pounded on or climbed atop city buses.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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