By Yepoka Yeebo
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN – NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly blamed organizers for Tuesday’s near riot at a free South Street Seaport concert on Tuesday night.
The free show, featuring the rapper Drake and the pop group Hanson, was canceled by police after thousands of angry music fans came close to starting a riot after finding out Drake would be 90 minutes late. Six people suffered minor injuries and police arrested two people.
“The promoters were not sufficiently prepared,” Kelly told the Daily News. “They had the normal security detail… and it was just insufficient."
About 4,000 people were expected at the event, sponsored by Paper Magazine, and the NYPD sent 19 officers. But police said around 25,000 people showed up.
"We increased the security for this year's show and took precautions to facilitate a large crowd," Drew Elliot of Paper Magazine told the News.
"That said, we were not expecting the numbers that did attend."
Two teenage fans arrested at the show were arraigned and released released on Wednesday night. John Harris, 16, was charged with disorderly conduct.
"I turned around, and my brother was getting roughed up by the policeman. I just tried to stop him," Harris told the News.
Shameek McBurnley, 17, allegedly threw a bottle and was later charged with resisting arrest, police said.
