Taxi Driver Attacked During Knicks Celebration
A taxi driver, whose cab was wrecked during a chaotic Knicks celebration last week, expressed he feels “lucky to be alive” after being pulled from his vehicle by rioters.
Noureddine Bitat, 59, revealed he has no plans to return to driving after being ambushed outside Madison Square Garden on June 11. It was a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“A crowd came and attacked him. They yanked him out of the taxi and grabbed him by the neck. Someone struck him on the head,” his interpreter recounted on Wednesday.
Bitat endured a violent onslaught from the mob who not only assaulted him but also turned their fury on his car. “They smashed the windshield, opened the front door, and even accessed the trunk. They were chanting, ‘Five of us! Five of us!'”
At a press conference outside the United Taxi Workers Alliance office in Long Island City, Bitat spoke candidly about the terrifying attack and the long-term mental and physical effects it has inflicted on him.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. while Bitat was driving along Seventh Avenue and 36th Street. A mob noticed his yellow taxi after the Knicks narrowed a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106, leading to streets flooded with celebrating fans. The Knicks later went on to win the championship.
After dragging Bitat from his cab, the mob smashed the windshield and attempted to set the vehicle ablaze—an event captured in a video that quickly went viral.
Bhairavi Desai, president of the alliance, indicated that Bitat’s glasses were broken during the chaos, and he later required hospitalization due to a diabetic emergency. “The following morning, I felt dizzy and had difficulty walking,” Desai said.
Bitat continues to suffer from back pain and vision issues, experiencing “massive trauma” that has rendered him unable to drive. “He’s fortunate to have escaped with his life. It could have been much worse,” the interpreter mentioned.
Yet, this traumatic incident made Bitat realize the potential dangers of his job—something he never quite believed possible before.
The National Union of Taxi Workers helped organize a GoFundMe campaign to assist Bitat, who struggles to provide for his wife and three children back in Algeria. So far, the fundraiser has collected $60,000, with contributions from rapper French Montana.
“The support made me feel like I had another family here, even if my own isn’t here,” the interpreter noted.
At least one individual was arrested in connection to the attack on Bitat, while another 56 were detained that night on various charges, including assaulting a police officer and criminal mischief.
Despite his fears, Bitat shared a hopeful message for New Yorkers ahead of the historic ticker tape parade planned for Thursday. “He wants to celebrate the Knicks’ victory and future successes, but he hopes people can do so in a peaceful manner, without endangering lives,” his interpreter clarified.
“Thank God he’s alive.”
