CHINATOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Tempers flared Tuesday night as federal agents carried out a joint Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown on New York City's Canal Street, targeting illegal street vending according to federal law enforcement officials.

NewsCopter 7 showed arrests taking place between Lafayette and Center streets in Chinatown, an area typically busy with merchants selling T-shirts, handbags, perfumes, and designer knockoffs, as New Yorkers faced off against federal agents.

The scene grew chaotic as vendors packed up their tables and attempted to flee, with several people seen running and falling as authorities from multiple agencies, including Homeland Security, ICE, DEA and the FBI, pursued them.

As agents tried to detain individuals, crowds of New Yorkers gathere

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