A woman armed with two knives allegedly stabbed a man and a woman in Times Square on Monday afternoon before NYPD officers used a Taser and then opened fire as she moved toward them.

The violent scene unfolded at about 4:27 p.m. near West 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue, just steps from the NYPD substation in one of the busiest tourist districts in America.

Five people were hospitalized, including two police officers. The female stabbing victim was reported in critical condition, while the alleged attacker suffered life-threatening injuries.

Police said the incident did not appear to be terrorism-related.

An eyewitness said the woman stabbed the person directly in front of him and captured the chaos as it unfolded:

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CBS News New York reports that officers responded to a radio call for a person with a knife outside the police stationhouse. Video showed the woman in a peach-colored shirt waving two knives as officers repeatedly ordered her to put them down.

A witness told the station that he saw the woman carrying both knives and heard the commands before gunfire erupted. Police deployed a Taser first, but the woman continued moving toward the officers, according to the account.

An officer then fired, striking her. The FDNY transported three civilians from the scene, while two officers were also taken to hospitals, and police sealed off part of the area as investigators began collecting video and witness statements.

Authorities had not publicly identified the woman or said what triggered the alleged attacks. The investigation remained active Monday evening.

Nick Sortor shared another view of the scene and argued that New York needs a far stronger public-safety response:

Spectrum News NY1 reports that the alleged victims were a man and a woman and that five people in all were taken to hospitals, including two officers. Police said the female stabbing victim was in critical condition, and sources described the alleged attacker’s injuries as life-threatening.

The station placed the confrontation near Seventh Avenue and West 43rd Street at about 4:30 p.m., matching the NYPD timeline. The department said the attack did not appear connected to terrorism, leaving the motive and the moments before the first stabbing as central unanswered questions.

The two injured officers were among those hospitalized, but police had not announced serious injuries to either one. Detectives were working through witness accounts and the extensive video coverage available in one of the most heavily monitored blocks in the city.

The public alert that followed warned drivers and subway riders to expect road closures, transit disruptions, and a heavy emergency presence around 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. People were urged to use alternate routes and stay away from the scene.

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A separate angle appears to show the armed woman moving toward a line of officers immediately before the gunfire:

That warning came only minutes after knives, bloodshed, and police gunfire erupted in broad daylight in the heart of Manhattan.

The officers ran toward the danger and stopped it. New Yorkers should not have to accept scenes like this as the cost of walking through Times Square.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

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