A never-ending wave of violence over the US metropolis of New York. In July 2020, the numbers of violent crimes were once again devastating.
New York. Firearm-related violence in New York City continues to rise this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic turmoil, according to New York Police Department statistics. While murders, break-ins, and car thefts have risen sharply, more serious thefts, assaults, and hate crimes have tended to decline.
Sharp increase in shootings
The numbers that have shocked many New Yorkers in recent weeks and are reminiscent of times long past are in any case clear: In June 2020, the number of incidents with gunshots in the eight million metropolis increased from 89 to the previous year 205 – that’s an increase of 130 percent.
In July 2020, New York authorities recorded 244 shootings. In July 2019 there were only 88, which is an increase of 177%. On July 1st, the city saw a 72% increase in shootouts compared to the same time last year – 772 up from 450 in 2019.
According to media reports, 64 people were shot at the weekend of Independence Day alone on July 4th.
54 murders in just 31 days
The number of murders in July increased 59% year over year. Accordingly, there were 54 murders this year and 34 in the previous year. Burglaries also rose 31% year-on-year. According to the police, 309 more car thefts were reported in July this year than in the previous year.
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Increasing violence from coronavirus?
The causes of the wave of violence in the US metropolis are puzzled. It is the third outbreak to preoccupy New York and other cities in the United States this year: first came the coronavirus, then the nationwide anger over racism and police violence – and now the number of shootings and murders is rising significantly. All developments could be related.
© APA / AFP / BRYAN R. SMITH
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Mayor Bill de Blasio blamed the rise in shootings, at least in part, for the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bill de Blasio announces anti-violence initiative
Last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an initiative to combat gun violence. For the first time, the intention is to concentrate primarily on hotspot areas where most violent acts have been reported. The planned program includes, among other things, a series of “Stop the Violence” events.
© GettyImages
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New York is not an isolated case
The development in New York is not an isolated case in the USA. Similar trends exist in a number of other cities, including Chicago in particular, which could hit the highest homicide rate in more than 20 years in 2020.
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