P.M. BRIEFING : Arson in N.Y. Daily News Strike

The front of a store selling the strike-torn Daily News was hit by arsonists today and two delivery men were attacked, but the newspaper said it distributed more than a million papers overnight.

The violence came after more than 13,000 union supporters rallied in front of the News building late Thursday, temporarily closing a block on 42nd Street.

Dozens of labor leaders and politicians urged the strikers to continue their fight. Cardinal John O’Connor sent a letter saying, “I do not believe that union members wanted to initiate the current strike.”

Police initially estimated the crowd at 5,000 but later changed their estimate to 13,000. They reported no arrests or injuries during the demonstration, but several scuffles erupted.