A suspect was detained and the victims, including one with serious injuries, were transported to a hospital, according to the New York Fire Department on Sunday.
Fire Department officials initially reported five wounded, but mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X that, “based on the information available right now, six people were stabbed and the alleged perpetrator is in custody”.
Circumstances of the attack were not immediately clear, but city comptroller Mark Levine said on X that the suspect is “said to be an emotionally disturbed homeless person”.
All victims are expected to survive, he added.
A photographer at the scene afterwards saw gauze, medical gloves and blood on the floor near tracks five and six, where police cordoned off the area.
State governor Kathy Hochul described the attack as “an act of horrific violence.”
The incident occurred at one of the nation’s busiest rail and subway transportation centers as the city prepares for two huge sporting spectacles in the coming week: basketball’s NBA Finals and football’s World Cup tournament.
Madison Square Garden, located directly above Penn Station in downtown Manhattan, will host games three and four of the NBA finals on Monday and Wednesday between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
MetLife stadium, outside the city in neighbouring New Jersey state, will host its first match of the World Cup on Saturday.
New York’s official emergency notification system did not describe the incident but said people should avoid the area and “expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel near Penn Station”. (AFP)
