Two people have died following a stabbing incident in New York City’s busy Times Square on Monday, after a knife-wielding woman attacked two pedestrians before she was shot and killed by police.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the deaths during a press conference, while police said another victim was receiving treatment in hospital and was in stable condition.
Authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, a Queens resident who was reportedly known to have mental health problems.
According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Cisneros pulled two large knives from a supermarket-branded bag and began threatening people in broad daylight.
Police said she first approached a 68-year-old man and stabbed him in the abdomen. About 20 seconds later, she attacked a 32-year-old woman, also stabbing her in the abdomen. Both victims later died from their injuries.
The identities of the victims have not been released as authorities work to notify their families.
Police officers responded quickly and attempted to convince Cisneros to drop the knives. Tisch said officers engaged her in dialogue for about four minutes and repeatedly ordered her to put down the weapons, but she refused.
During the confrontation, Cisneros allegedly told officers that she would rather kill them than surrender the knives.
A witness who spoke to local television station PIX11 said the woman was holding two knives and was initially hit with a Taser before allegedly charging at police officers.
Police confirmed that officers unsuccessfully used a stun gun before firing their handguns. Local reports said Cisneros was taken to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said there was no indication that the incident was terrorism-related.
Tisch described the incident as an extremely dangerous situation in the heart of Times Square, one of New York’s busiest tourist destinations, where thousands of residents, commuters, tourists, workers and families pass through every day.
An AFP journalist at the scene reported seeing a large emergency-services presence, while officials examined an area of blood at the scene.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
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