The video attack that was captured on Tuesday on innocent motorists in Manhattan by a gang of young cyclists was absolutely heinous – but all too typical of the kind of chaos and lawlessness that gripped the city.
The shameless assault did not take place in the middle of the night, but at 4:30 p.m.
While Max Torgovnick and his mother, who is in her 70s, are innocently riding together, a pack of more than a dozen young cyclists suddenly rides on their BMW, surrounds the car and bumps into it.
One broke a bicycle on it. Another one vaulted on the hood and then jumped on the windshield until it partially sank.
And the attack took place shortly after the punks targeted another vehicle – a yellow cabin – which was driving the car and later injured him by throwing a bicycle at him.
According to law enforcement, about 25 motorcyclists are involved, six of whom damaged Torgovnick’s car. A 15-year-old was arrested in connection with the BMW attack.
“It was an animal attack in broad daylight,” said one Manhattan police officer. “It shows how far the city has deteriorated, and the politicians have to get their heads out of the sand and deal with these problems before there is anything left.”
He’s right. Murders are up 40 percent this year, and shootings have doubled. Homelessness, vandalism and mental illness have become commonplace on the streets. Now you can not even drive down the street in the middle of the day without wondering if you are going to be next.
There is a growing fear that the city is losing control – and increasingly there is a need to fear.