#NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea says Bronx protest was about ‘mayhem’

The group that cops violently clashed with in The Bronx on Thursday night wasn’t there to protest — but instead cause “mayhem” while armed with gasoline and “numerous weapons,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said Friday.

“In this particular incident, we had information regarding the intent to destroy property, injure cops and to cause mayhem,” Shea said during the mayor’s daily press conference.

“This wasn’t again about protests, this was about tearing down society,” the city’s top cop said.

He said the NYPD’s plan to break up the rally of about 100 people “was executed nearly flawlessly” and led to officers recovering the gasoline and weapons, including a firearm. The details of related arrests were not immediately provided to The Post.

The NYPD had come under fire for how police handled the Mott Haven demonstration, which was organized by Decolonize This Place, the group behind the anti-police protests on the subway earlier this year. The movement often targets cultural sites in the name of the rights of underrepresented groups.

Videos from social media show cops violently enforcing the curfew to break up what media reports described as a “relatively calm” demonstration.

When asked about the police tactics, which reportedly wrapped in reporters and lawyers, Shea defended his officers’ actions — saying people knew what the rally was about, so if they were there, that’s on them.

“There could have been some innocent people caught up in it. … I think people are accountable for their own actions, too,” he said.

“We all have to exercise a little common sense and say, ‘If there’s a place where people are saying there’s going to be violence, why would you possibly want to go there?’ ”

Mayor Bill de Blasio declared Thursday that “enough is enough” and protesters needed to listen to cops enforcing the curfew.

Overnight arrests in Gotham jumped to 240 as police cracked down on marchers out past the 8 p.m. curfew. Police officers moved in on the Mott Haven crowd minutes after 8 p.m.