Manhattan Times Square has seen three consecutive knife attacks within the past week, with incidents occurring in highly concentrated times and locations in Midtown, once again drawing media attention to the area’s security situation.
The most recent incident took place on Tuesday morning inside a McDonald’s located at 1528 Broadway, near West 45th Street. Police received a report close to 6 a.m. and upon arrival, they found a 27-year-old man with stab wounds to his abdomen. The victim was later taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment and is currently in stable condition. The police are currently investigating the suspect involved in the case, with the motive yet to be disclosed.
Just two days prior on Sunday evening, another knife attack occurred near Broadway and West 40th Street. A man suffered cuts to his left leg, and although he was taken to receive medical treatment by the police, there have been no arrests made in connection with the incident.
Going back further to the early hours of last Wednesday, a knife attack also took place at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and West 40th Street. A 30-year-old man was involved in a confrontation with three other men, believed to be related to a marijuana transaction dispute, during which he sustained cuts to his face and stab wounds to his back. One suspect was subsequently arrested by the police, while the other two fled south along Seventh Avenue and are currently still at large.
The concentration of violent incidents in the core area of Midtown, packed with crowds and tourists, has raised concerns about local security. The NYPD has stated that they will increase patrols and law enforcement in Times Square and surrounding streets, urging witnesses or individuals with information to come forward to assist in solving the cases promptly and maintaining the safety of the Times Square area.