The incident was reported shortly before 6:30 pm, near Baxter and Worth streets. No words were exchanged between the victim and the suspect.
The suspect ran after the attack. Spectators came to the aid of the victim.
The 36-year-old victim, who is Asian, was taken to the hospital.
The victim had to have surgery and the authorities say his condition is getting worse,
The Asian Hate Crime Task Force was called in to assist with the investigation. Currently, there is no evidence of a hate crime.
For your information …. tonight worth and baxter, an asian man was stabbed and the case is being handled and investigated by our @ NYPD5Pct who also called the hate crime task force in Asia to assist in the investigation. Currently, there is no evidence of a hate crime.
Stay safe, guys.– Yuh-Line Niou (@yuhline) February 26, 2021
Sources say a person of interest entered the Manhattan public prosecutor’s office and turned himself in to the police.
They say the security at the scene alerted the authorities. The police then arrived and took the suspect into custody.
Sources say they are being questioned in the 5th district.
Community members said they were outraged and furious after the latest attack on an Asian New Yorker.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials spoke earlier this week about the city’s renewed effort to tackle hate crimes against Asians.
“Each community suffered, but there was a particular pain, a particular horrible challenge, faced by the Asian American community,” said de Blasio. “Because, in addition to all the suffering of the coronavirus itself, in addition to losing loved ones and losing business, people had to face horrible discrimination and hatred.”
The Asian Hate Crime Task Force is focusing across the city, but will pay special attention to the subways after a series of incidents in the public transport system.
Community leaders say the incident is just one more reason why the task force should be funded and staffed by full-time officers.
“You need to be able to give them the resources they need to help focus on solving the problem,” said community advocate Jenny Low. “I believe they have very good officers who are well trained to do this. But voluntary work is still voluntary work.”
RELATED | Blasio’s mayor says the Asian Hate Crime Task Force works to combat a number of prejudice crimes in New York
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