Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ decisive 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, jubilant celebrations erupted across Philadelphia. While many fans celebrated peacefully, certain areas experienced unruly behavior, prompting police intervention.
In Center City, particularly near 12th and Market streets, fans set fires, climbed on vehicles, and dismantled traffic poles. SkyForce10 footage captured fans igniting what appeared to be towels, leading to significant blazes. To ensure public safety, Philadelphia police moved swiftly to disperse crowds and extinguish fires. The City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management issued a cellphone alert at 1:35 a.m., urging crowds to clear the streets.
Throughout the night, authorities reported nearly 50 arrests. These included five individuals charged with assaulting police officers, two for aggravated assault, one for reckless endangerment, and one for disorderly conduct. Additionally, 29 people received citations for disorderly conduct. Vandalism incidents were also noted, with damage to city sanitation trucks, banks, and retail stores along Walnut Street.
Despite these disturbances, the majority of fans celebrated the Eagles’ Super Bowl win peacefully. City officials are now focusing on preparations for the upcoming victory parade, scheduled for Friday, to honor the team’s achievement.