New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has addressed the horrifying stabbing attack that unfolded in the heart of Times Square, praising NYPD officers for their swift response after a knife-wielding woman allegedly attacked two people before being fatally shot by police.
The terrifying incident happened Monday afternoon, August 31, 2026, near Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street, one of Manhattan’s busiest tourist areas. Authorities identified the alleged attacker as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Cisneros allegedly pulled two large knives from a shopping bag before approaching a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway and was waiting to cross the street with his wife. She allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen before moving toward a 32-year-old woman, whom police say she also stabbed in the abdomen.
BREAKING: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses the deadly Times Square stabbing, saying a woman carrying multiple knives stabbed two people before responding NYPD officers deployed a Taser and opened fire.
"I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a… pic.twitter.com/E8kfwUL5pa
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The attacks were described by police as random and unprovoked.
Responding NYPD officers confronted Cisneros while she continued holding the knives. Authorities said officers spent several minutes ordering her to drop the weapons before multiple Tasers were deployed. When those attempts failed and she allegedly advanced toward officers while armed, two officers opened fire.
Dramatic video circulating online captured officers surrounding the armed woman before gunshots rang out in the crowded Times Square area.
Speaking after the tragedy, Mayor Mamdani praised the officers for intervening during the rapidly developing situation.
“I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse.”
Mamdani confirmed that both the alleged attacker and one of the stabbing victims later died. The second victim, the 68-year-old man, remained hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
Police said investigators had found no indication that the attack was terrorism-related, while the motive remained unclear. Authorities also said Cisneros had previous documented encounters with the NYPD involving mental-health concerns but no prior arrest history.
The shocking attack brought a heavy emergency response to Times Square and temporarily disrupted activity around the popular Manhattan destination.
An investigation into both the stabbing and the police use of deadly force is continuing.
