Police officers respond after a knife attack in New York’s Times Square where a woman stabbed two people before being shot dead by police (img: X)
New York: New York’s iconic Times Square witnessed a terrifying incident when a knife-wielding woman allegedly stabbed two people in a random attack before being shot dead by police. The incident unfolded in one of the city’s busiest tourist zones, leaving visitors and commuters shocked.
According to officials, the attack happened around 4:30 pm local time when thousands of people were present in the area.
Police said the woman attacked two strangers within a gap of just 20 seconds. A 32-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man were stabbed during the incident.
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The female victim suffered serious injuries and later died at a hospital. The male victim was rushed for treatment and was later reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros.
After the stabbing, the suspect allegedly attempted to escape but was confronted by police officers near an NYPD substation.
Officers spent around four minutes trying to convince her to drop the knives. Police said she refused to surrender and continued moving toward officers while holding weapons.
Authorities said officers first used Tasers to stop her, but they were unsuccessful. The woman allegedly removed the devices and continued advancing, forcing officers to open fire.
She was taken to a hospital but was later declared dead.
Officials said the attack does not appear to be terrorism-related. Investigators are working to determine what triggered the violence.
Police described the woman as appearing emotionally disturbed and said she had a documented mental health history.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, including a review of body-camera footage from responding officers.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed sadness over the incident and praised police officers for responding quickly.
He said the officers’ actions prevented the situation from becoming worse and confirmed that an internal investigation would be conducted following the police shooting.
