Knife attack in Times Square: one person killed
A woman armed with two kitchen knives attacked pedestrians in Times Square in central New York City, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring a 68-year-old man. The attacker was shot and killed by police.
**Times Square stabbing: Woman killed, attacker killed by police**
A horrific stabbing attack took place near New York's bustling Times Square on Monday evening, August 31. A 49-year-old woman armed with two large kitchen knives attacked people on the street, killing one person.
The New York Times reported that the incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. local time at the intersection of 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue, near a police station. The dpa agency reported that the attacker lived in the New York borough of Queens.
The attacker first attacked a 68-year-old man who had just gotten off the subway and was preparing to cross the street with his wife, stabbing him in the stomach. Seconds later, he also attacked a 32-year-old woman, stabbing her in the stomach. Both victims were taken to the hospital, but the 32-year-old woman died from her injuries. The 68-year-old man is said to be in stable condition.
According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, officers who arrived at the scene tried to persuade the attacker to drop the knives for several minutes. However, he did not obey the police demands and tried to attack the officers. After that, the police first used stun guns. When the attacker did not stop, the officers were forced to use firearms. The woman died from her gunshot wounds.
The police commissioner noted that the woman who attacked had previously been reported to have mental health issues in police records, including in 2018 and 2019. However, she was not arrested in those incidents.
Law enforcement agencies have so far said that there is no reason to consider the attack in Times Square as an act of terrorism.
New York City Mayor Zohrab Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tish praised the actions of police officers at the scene. The mayor said that the quick actions of the police prevented more people from being injured.
Meanwhile, violent crimes in New York City have decreased significantly throughout 2026. According to dpa, the number of murders in the city has decreased by 24 percent compared to the same period last year, and the year-end figure may be one of the lowest in decades.