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A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a chaotic snowball fight in Manhattan’s Washington Square Park that left New York Police Department (NYPD) officers injured.
However, Mayor Zohran Mamdani downplayed the incident as a “snowball fight.” Police said Gusmane Coulibaly was taken into custody on Thursday morning over allegations that officers responding to reports of a disorderly gathering on Monday were repeatedly hit with packed snow and ice. Authorities said several officers suffered injuries to the head, neck and face and required medical attention.The arrest comes days after videos circulated online showing a large crowd throwing snowballs during a winter storm, with some individuals appearing to target responding officers.
Police officials described the conduct as criminal and confirmed detectives had been working to identify suspects using footage from the scene.Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the behaviour captured in the viral videos crossed the line. “This was not harmless fun. Officers were struck repeatedly with packed snow and ice, which can cause serious injury,” she said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.Coulibaly’s arrest also drew attention because court records show he was arrested earlier this month on attempted robbery charges in the city’s transit system. He is scheduled to appear in Bronx Criminal Court on March 16 in that case.
Mayor Mamdani calls it ‘a snowball fight’
Reacting to the incident, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the episode did not warrant criminal charges despite urging residents to respect police officers.“I’ve seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard keeping New Yorkers safe. Treat them with respect. If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me.”
He later reiterated that the footage he reviewed appeared to show “a snowball fight that got out of hand,” rather than a serious assault requiring prosecution. His remarks, however, drew sharp criticism from police unions, which argued officers were deliberately targeted. The Police Benevolent Association described the incident as an assault, saying compacted snow and ice can cause significant harm.Police officials have also released images of additional individuals wanted in connection with the incident, indicating more arrests may follow.The episode has sparked wider debate in New York over public conduct toward law enforcement and how to distinguish between spontaneous crowd behaviour and criminal acts.
