Subway services through New York’s iconic Grand Central station faced major disruption Friday morning after transit police shot a knife-wielding assailant who had stabbed three elderly passengers on a midtown Manhattan platform.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority announced multiple trains would bypass the station indefinitely following the 9.50am incident on the platform serving lines 4, 5 and 6 at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue, with police requesting commuters “avoid the vicinity” whilst warning of heavy traffic and delays throughout the surrounding area.
A transit authority police officer shot the suspect—now in critical condition—after the attacker allegedly slashed three victims using what witnesses described as a machete, according to local outlet WPIX citing police and fire department sources.
The injured passengers—two men aged 64 and 65 alongside a 70-year-old woman—were transported to hospital in stable condition with knife wounds, whilst the suspect received emergency treatment for gunshot injuries.
A witness told WPIX they observed at least one victim slashed with the large blade before officers drew firearms and issued commands demanding the attacker drop the weapon.
A WPIX employee arriving shortly after the confrontation photographed the substantial knife lying on the platform floor, with images capturing the weapon’s considerable size.
A police spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that the officer who shot the suspect belonged to the transit authority’s own force rather than the New York Police Department, though the NYPD maintained overall jurisdiction over the investigation.
The New York Police Department had not released official details at time of publication, though the agency’s X post urged public cooperation avoiding the Grand Central area whilst authorities processed the crime scene and restored normal operations.
The incident occurred during Friday morning rush hour at one of New York’s busiest transportation hubs, with Grand Central serving as a critical interchange for commuter rail lines alongside multiple subway routes connecting Manhattan to outer boroughs.
Transit disruptions compounded Friday commuter challenges as trains rerouted around the station, creating cascading delays throughout the subway network whilst platforms remained closed for evidence collection and security assessments.
No additional details regarding the suspect’s identity, potential motives or circumstances leading to the attack were immediately available, with authorities expected to provide comprehensive briefings once initial investigations conclude.
The stabbing represents the latest violent incident on New York’s subway system, though transit authority officials have not commented on whether enhanced security measures will be implemented following Friday’s attack.
