Gunshots were heard on 32nd street between Sixth and Seventh avenues in New York around 5:00pm in Midtown. Police and SWAT teams locked down the area.
The NYPD told RT that the DCPI is on the scene in Midtown Manhattan, and is yet to report back about how the incident transpired.“Two officers were injured. They are both stable, and being treated at Bellevue Hospital,” police said.
NYPD Spokesperson J. Peter Donald confirmed that the suspect had a meat cleaver and was shot by the officers.
He also confirmed that at least one officer was injured with the weapon in the attack and is now receiving medical treatment.
CBS2 reported that the suspect approached officers with a meat cleaver and slashed one of them, inflicting a “laceration wound to the head,” while the second officer suffered a “graze wound” to the back.
It is not known if the second officer suffered the injury from the meat cleaver or a gun shot.
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The perpetrator of the attack was also rushed to a hospital in critical condition, Pix 11 News reports.
Massive police & what looks like swat team gathering outside Penn station on closed down West 32nd St https://t.co/cdWQbHi70y
— (@peteyreplies) Sep 15 2016
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that sources identified the attacker as Akram Joudeh from Queens, NY. This information has not been confirmed by the authorities.
One witness, Cesar Razuri tweeted that he heard 5-7 shots. He reported seeing police units coming in and out of the parking garage in the building where his office is located.
Periscope tweet from @lyndseyrathburn showed an ambulance leaving the scene with at least three helicopter circling above. The street is cordoned off with a large police presence.