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Click here to see all the Halloween weekend photos from Salem News photographers.

Salem Police are investigating several assaults that occurred last night.

Just after 11 p.m., a Dorchester man was stabbed and a Haverhill man was struck in the mouth with a beer bottle by the 7-Eleven on North Street, according to police. Both victims were transported to Salem Hospital and no arrests have been made in connection with the assault.

Minutes later, police responded to Lafayette Street, by Ward Street, where a Lynn teenager had been slashed across the face with a knife, according to police. That incident is also under investigation.

Despite those crimes, Police Chief Paul Tucker said the night “went extremely well,” particularly when considering the size of the crowds.

“It was an excellent job by the police and the city,” said Tucker, who estimated that as many as 100,000 people came to Salem throughout the day. “It was clearly the biggest crowd we’ve seen.

“The city provided a forum for people to come here, have a great night, and go home safely.”

Some Salem businesses are attributing yesterday’s beautiful weather, in part, for record crowds and spending. Officials have said that because Halloween fell on a Saturday (for the first time in a decade), it allowed families and revelers to come and go throughout the day.

Maria Harris, the owner of Maria’s Sweet Somethings on Front Street, said there was a line out the door of her shop for 10 hours. “It was my best Halloween ever,” she said.

Halloween may be over, but Salem is still bustling with people the morning after the big celebration, and parking is still hard to come by. Crews are breaking down the carnival rides in the vacant lot on Derby Street as the city slowly returns to normal.

Police are investigating two stabbings and have made an arrest in an armed robbery, as Halloween night in Salem winds down.

Detectives are on their way to the scene of a stabbing at 7-Eleven on North Street, according to Police Chief Paul Tucker.

Tucker described the stab wounds as “serious.”

Another stabbing has been reported outside the area of 113 Lafayette St., Tucker said. Police are investigating.

Police also made an arrest in an armed robbery near Derby Lofts, Tucker said. The man allegedly robbed the victim at knife point and stole a gold chain and cash at around 10:30 p.m.

Two detail police officers apprehended the suspect behind Beverly Cooperative Bank, according to Tucker.

11:35 p.m.

Scenes from Halloween Evening. Photos by staff photographer Deborah Parker.

Just wrapped up an interview with Mayor Kim Driscoll and Police Chief Paul Tucker outside City Hall around 9:30 p.m. They are happy with the crowd’s behavior so far, but aware that the next few hours will bring the biggest challenges.

By the way, Chief Tucker personally put a man into protective custody around 9:15 p.m. after catching him allegedly urinating in the alley beside City Hall.

There have been few other problems, however.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

How are things going? Is it a quiet night so far?

Tucker: I wouldn’t say it’s quiet, but it’s very orderly. I’m very, very pleased at this point, not only with the size of the crowd, but the conduct of the crowd. For a crowd this size, you expect a certain number of people that may not follow the rules.  I think that number is even lower than we were expecting, given the crowd — at this hour.

Is the plan still the same — to start sending people home at 11?

Driscoll: At 10 o’clock, all the outside locations will shut down their music. Fireworks are 10:45ish. And trains right afterward. We were a little concerned earlier with the way the wind was. We were scared we might not get the firworks in, but it’s fine now. That’s really what gets people up here (to the train station area).

We heard there was a minor issue at the court house project?

Tucker: I heard there were a  couple pieces that were falling off — I don’t know if that was confirmed or not — I think it was just construction debris or something, and I never heard anything more about it

So what has the day been like for both of you?

Driscoll: I was down here earlier doing some monitoring, checking up on the stage, scouting out locations. Then I went trick-or-treating with my own kids. And just got back here and did a walk-around. It’s great to have boots on the street. You get a sense of what’s happening.

Tucker: For me, it was exactly the same thing. … I’d rather be out here and get a feel for it. Obviously it’ s a different position for me this year. I have a lot of faith in the command staff, but there’s no substitute for being here and seeing it.

How has the concept of the live bands on a main stage been working?

Driscoll: I think it’s really worked. The idea of having the band was really to thin out the crwds. … If we can thin out the crowds and have different venues in different areas, that’s what we need, and that has worked.

It’s always tough to know for sure, but do you have any crowd estimates?

Tucker: I would say tens of thousands, clearly. It’s probably going to be, I don’t know, I’ve heard 50,000 or 60,000. There are thousands of people in every area. With that many people, though, there have been very few problems.

Tha mayor and I just walked down to the train station and there were at least a couple hundred people queued up, waiting to get on the train.

Any word on how bad the traffic has been?

Tucker: At one point, I heard 114 was jammed and 128 was backed up a couple miles beyond the exit. That was earlier.

Anything you want to get out to people?

Tucker: Take public transportation and, once it’s over, it’s over.

Driscoll: We’re closing at 11. If you’re not here and you expect to get into a bar right now, it’s not gonna happen.

9:43 p.m.

Scenes from Halloween evening. Photos by staff photographer Deborah Parker

Police are reporting big crowds and lots of traffic on Route 128, but only a few problems so far.

However, it is still early, they warn.

Police have made just six arrests so far and there had been only one minor case of Halloween mischief, as of 7:30 p.m.

A few people were arrested for allegedly lighting decorative cornstalks on fire by the overpass on North Street, according to Lt. Conrad Prosniewski.

“The crowds are slowly swelling,” said Prosniewski. “It’s getting bigger and bigger.There have been no problems.”

Police had to close down Washington Street two hours earlier than anticipated to address the large crowds.

Revelers continue to arrive into the Witch City via commuter rail by the hundreds.

“It has all the earmarks of it being a bigger crowd,” said Prosniewski. “Whether it actually happens or not, I don’t know.”

Police have confiscated some authentic-looking weapons, and Prosniewski had some advice for revelers.

“Come in, don’t act up, don’t drink,” said Prosniewski. “It’s a family atmosphere. Don’t bring any authentic weapons. And when it’s time to shut down, we hope they leave. Everybody did last year.”

8:16 p.m.

Scenes from Halloween Night. Photos by staff photographer Deborah Parker.

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