

More than 50 people were injured during a Pride celebration at Washington Square Park on Sunday evening, when false reports of gunfire and the deployment of bear spray sparked a stampede of people fleeing for their lives, according to police and sources.
A shirtless man unleashed the potent chemicals in the park — burning several bystanders’ eyes — while at the same time, rumors of gunfire led thousands to rush out of the Greenwich Village park, believing their lives were in danger.
The man was arrested by police at the scene, according to the NYPD.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many injuries were a result of the stampede and how many were due to the mace, but none were expected to be life-threatening.