A barrier collapse at Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York City, yesterday (September 30) caused mass panic and confusion among festival goers.
Fans mistook the barrier collapse for being “gun-shot-like noises,” causing many to rush towards the exit in panic.
The ensuing confusion abruptly stopped the event amid fears for the safety of the 60,000 fans attending the event as people were injured during the charge with some witnesses at the event describing the scene as “stampede-like.”
https://twitter.com/allendevlin_/status/1046185786079686659
https://twitter.com/AlanMorseDavies/status/1046182348738314240
A fence falling at the Global Citizen Festival made people think there was a shooting and people started to freak out. It's so sad that we are so conditioned to mass shootings that something like a fence falling can cause mass panic and chaos at a charity festival.
— Azya (@Azthecutest) September 29, 2018
A barrier fell at the Global Citizen Festival in NYC, people thought it was gunshots, and pandemonium occurred.
This is the world we now live in. This is how common mass shootings are.
— Mike McGranaghan (@AisleSeat) September 29, 2018
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https://twitter.com/marcellabaietto/status/1046182685692108800
WATCH: Chris Martin and NYPD Assistant Chief Kathleen O'Reilly explain that a fence barrier collapsed at #GlobalCitizen Festival; there were no shots fired: "You're all safe." pic.twitter.com/wiAbyMVjqh
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 29, 2018
Scary moment at the #GlobalCitizen Festival in NYC, live on @MSNBC: A fence barrier collapsed, the noise was startling, some attendees thought it sounded like gunshots, and there was a stampede. MSNBC cut to commercial, then came back and explained what happened. pic.twitter.com/SumPbM6GC5
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 30, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoWJJV_AtDI/?tagged=globalcitizenfestival
It was left to Coldplay’s Chris Martin to calm the situation as he took to the stage with NYPD’s assistant chief Kathleen O’Reilly to reassure fans. Martin was the curator of this year’s event.
Martin said: “What happened is a barrier, I think, fell down. Of course it caused people to feel frightened and stuff like that. But nobody is trying to hurt anybody. You’re all safe, okay?”
O’Reilly added: “There were no shots fired” and organisers Global Citizen took to Twitter to say “[everyone] is safe” before the event continued.
Later on, the festival organisers tweeted that an as yet unspecified number of people had been injured when the barrier had collapsed whilst also thanking the first responders “who ensured everyone’s safety and enabled the festival to go on.”
Stay calm, everyone. A barrier fell at the #GlobalCitizen Festival in Central Park, but the show is back on. https://t.co/VHbMaEXmlb
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) September 30, 2018
There were NO SHOTS FIRED at #GlobalCitizenFestival. The sound was a fallen barrier. @NYPDCentralPark @GlblCtzn
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 29, 2018
Everyone is safe and the #GlobalCitizenFestival is back on! So, ?People of the world unite, strength in numbers we can get it right ? @JanetJackson is on stage right now!
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) September 30, 2018
#GlobalCitizen is committed to the safety of everyone who attends our events, and we're so happy to know that everyone is safe tonight. Thank you @nypdnews for keeping us all safe.
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) September 30, 2018
Thank you to all the Global Citizens who took action and joined us today. Our thoughts are with those who were injured or afraid after the barrier fell earlier this evening. We're grateful for the first responders who ensured everyone's safety and enabled the festival to go on. pic.twitter.com/K03VEpP8FJ
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) September 30, 2018
The Weekend, Janet Jackson, Cardi B – her first set since giving birth – and Janelle Monae were among performers at the festival. The Weend cut short his set due the the incident.