Shock gripped Manhattan on Saturday. At the 42nd Street–Grand Central station, in the heart of one of New York's major transportation hubs, a man armed with a machete attacked several people before being shot dead by police. The latest report indicates three people were injured, while authorities describe the attack as seemingly random in a particularly busy transit area.
A lightning attack across multiple levels of the station
According to initial reports from authorities, the assailant attacked his victims on different platforms and levels of the Grand Central terminal, causing immediate panic. The attack reportedly began shortly before 9:40 a.m. local time, before police arrived at the scene.
Three victims were injured, including two men who were seriously hurt.
The victims are an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman, according to reports released Saturday. The two men suffered severe head and facial injuries, one of them with an open skull fracture. Despite the extreme violence of the attack, the latest information released during the day indicates that all three victims were hospitalized in stable condition, with injuries deemed non-life-threatening.
The suspect refused to obey before being neutralized.
According to New York authorities, police officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. The man, identified by several sources as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, reportedly refused to comply and advanced toward the officers, prompting an officer to open fire. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. American media also report that he was speaking incoherently during the arrest.
Grand Central plunged back into fear of unpredictable attacks
The attack immediately caused disruptions on several subway lines serving Grand Central. Beyond the shock, the event reignites concerns about sudden violence on New York's public transportation system, particularly when it strikes random passengers in crowded areas. The incident, which occurred in broad daylight at a critical point in the network, is likely to reignite the debate about safety on the subway in the sprawling metropolis.
