The world’s most famous arena stood up for the Big Apple’s most famous cop.
NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards, who chased down ISIS-inspired wannabe bombers outside Gracie Mansion in a viral moment, got a standing ovation from Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, the latest accolade for the humble hero.
“Please join us in honoring a 23-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards,” the announcer said during the Knicks game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
“On March 7 explosive devices were thrown into a crowded protest outside Gracie Mansion,” the announcer said. “Chief Edwards jumped over a police barricade and ran toward the threat without hesitation, exemplifying the kind of courage that defines New York’s Finest.”
The packed crowd of nearly 20,000 rose to give the chief a standing ovation — as Edwards pointed to the Knicks logo on his sweatshirt, the video shows.
Edwards was on duty outside the mayor’s mansion during a rowdy anti-Muslim rally when two maniacs in a counter-protest group — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19 — tossed homemade bombs, with one landing just steps from the chief.
A split second later Edwards hopped a barricade and helped chase down Balat — without knowing that the crudely made devices would fail to detonate.
A photo of the cop’s heroics that shows him hopping the barrier has been an online sensation.
Edwards shrugged off the feat as just part of the job in a follow-up interview with The Post.
“Regardless of rank, regardless of life, regardless of position, you’re a cop first,” he said. “Once a cop, always a cop. When you see danger, you have that cop in you. You react to it.”
Batal and Kayumi, who both come from well-to-do Pennsylvania families, allegedly admitted that they were inspired by the radical terror group — and said they hoped to kill more people than the three who died during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Both were turned over to the feds and are being held on terror charges.
Meanwhile, Edwards’ night at MSG was capped with a 121-116 Knicks win over the Pelicans.
The chief was honored as part of MSG’s “Thank You, NYPD” initiative, which launched earlier this month to recognize Big Apple police officers and includes a star-studded cops-only concert.
“‘Thank You, NYPD’ is designed to let our police know that we New Yorkers need, respect and appreciate their effort and service,” Garden CEO Jim Dolan said in a statement.
“It is not political, just a sincere ‘thank you’ to our men and women in blue,” Dolan said.
