Times Square stabbing leaves woman dead, attacker shot by New York police

A woman armed with two knives stabbed two people in Times Square before NYPD officers shot her dead. Police said there was no sign of terrorism, but the attack has renewed focus on public safety and mental health.Image used for representational purposes onlyA woman stabbed two people in New York City's Times Square on Monday, killing one woman and injuring a man, before she was shot dead by police, the New York Police Department said.The incident took place near an NYPD substation outside One Times Square, the building that hosts the city's New Year's Eve ball drop. Police said there was no evidence to suggest it was a terrorist attack, and the case is under investigation.According to police, the 49-year-old woman from Queens pulled two knives from a shopping bag and stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen before quickly turning and stabbing a 32-year-old woman, also in the abdomen. Both were taken to hospital, where the woman died. The man was reported to be in stable condition. Police did not say whether the victims were tourists or city residents. Their names have not been released until their families are informed.Videos posted on social media showed a group of at least 10 officers around the woman, who was holding two large kitchen knives. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers spent several minutes trying to get her to drop the knives before using a Taser. The woman told them, "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you," Tisch said. Two officers then shot the woman. Videos shared by bystanders showed her falling to the ground, after which an officer handcuffed her. Officers then rolled her onto her back and gave first aid. "This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world," Tisch said. She added that the woman had a documented mental health history with the NYPD but no arrest history.Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, "We know that those families' lives have been shattered by what took place today, and we will continue to hold them close as the hours and days and weeks continue from this moment." The NYPD closed part of 7th Avenue and asked people to stay away from the area as officers worked at the scene, where the stabbing left one woman dead, one man injured and the attacker dead after the police shooting. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 1, 2026 08:44 IST