Clashes have erupted between US police and protesters in New York City amid a state of high anxiety across the nation over the winner of the nail-biter election.
Rallies held in New York City on Wednesday, with protesters chanting “Count The Vote” after President Donald Trump said he would file lawsuits to stop vote counts in several states where vote were underway.
The protests, however, turned violent in the evening in Lower Manhattan when demonstrators created carnage and set a fire in the street.
People were seen setting fire to a Joe Biden campaign sign, in a move that led to a round of applause and chants; “Burn the precinct to the ground.”
Police intervened and the confrontations resulted in the arrests of at least 60 people, according to New York Police Department (NYPD).
It said on Twitter that those arrested “attempted to hijack a peaceful protest by lighting fires, throwing garbage and eggs in Manhattan.”
Clashes also erupted when scores of officers, dressed in riot gear, were forcefully arresting people and struggling with others during the chaotic encounter.
“Move!” police officers shouted at the group, forcing them off the street as the protesters were shouting “Shame, shame, shame.”
Earlier in the day, NYPD Chief of Department Terrance Monahan warned his department would be on the lookout for any agitators trying to exploit otherwise peaceful protests.
“We are going to be on the lookout for anarchists who are trying to hijack these peaceful marches,” Monahan said. “We have also asked the organizers to help us identify these outside people.”
Reports said a day before Election Day that police forces were preparing for civil unrest and violence as Trump had planned to declare a premature victory if he is “ahead” on Tuesday night.
The Republican incumbent made a false declaration of victory in the early hours of Wednesday, even though the ballots of millions of people had yet to be tallied.
“Frankly, we did win this election,” Trump said, calling for votes stop being counted.
But no news organizations declared a winner between him and the Democratic candidate.
Citing voter fraud, Trump threatened that he will “be going to the US Supreme Court.”
This has concerned Democrats that in some cases a Supreme Court now dominated by conservative justices could ultimately limit vote-counting in a way that would aid Trump.
Biden, with 264 electoral votes, is now inching toward with the 270-mark.
Several key states, including Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, are expected to project a winner at some point on Wednesday or Thursday.
But if there are legal challenges to the results, it might take weeks before a candidate can officially declare victory.
Source: Agenceis
