Six people stabbed in attack at Penn Station in New York

Six people were stabbed in a Sunday night attack at New York’s Penn Station, authorities said, with Amtrak police saying a person believed to be homeless was being held in custody as a result.

The stabbings at the US’s busiest railroad hub came one day before thousands of basketball fans were expected at the third game of the NBA finals at the adjacent Madison Square Garden complex, although the events are not believed to be linked.

One of the victims has serious wounds, two were moderately injured and two others received minor injuries, according to paramedics who were called to the scene at about 7pm. Paramedics took the five to Manhattan’s Bellevue hospital.

A sixth person, whose condition was not known on Monday, was taken to a separate hospital.

The identity of the suspect and information about likely charges were not immediately available. It is also not clear if any of the victims are related or were targeted.

New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, posted on X that he was in touch with Amtrak officials about the “horrific” stabbing and praised first responders.

“Based on the information available right now, six people were stabbed and the alleged perpetrator is in custody following a swift response from the Amtrak police department,” he wrote.

“My heart is with everyone who was injured, their loved ones, and all those shaken by this unacceptable violence. I’m wishing each of the victims a full and speedy recovery.”

Sunday’s violence is the latest of a series of attacks that have taken place at public transportation facilities in New York in recent weeks.

In May, a 76-year-old man died after he was pushed downstairs at Manhattan’s 18th Street subway station. Mamdani demanded an inquiry into the release of the alleged attacker from Bellevue’s psychiatric wing only hours before.

Meanwhile, in April, three people were injured at Grand Central station in a machete attack by a man who claimed he was “Lucifer”. He was shot dead by police after refusing to drop his weapon.

Video posted to social media earlier in June showed an apparent antisemitic attack on a New York subway train in which a victim was allegedly beaten to the floor and had a chunk of her hair pulled out. A 23-year-old woman from the Bronx was arrested on hate crime charges.