NEW YORK (AP) — A man armed with a machete attacked three police officers at a New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City on Saturday, authorities said. The suspect struck two of the officers in the head before another shot him in the shoulder.
The incident occurred just after 10 p.m. about eight blocks from Times Square, just outside the high-security zone where attendees are not allowed to carry weapons.
One of the hospitalized policemen suffered a skull fracture while the other suffered a deep cut, but both are expected to recover.
Police did not immediately identify the 19-year-old suspect, who is also expected to recover.
The attack and the noise of the shot caused some people to run, but the incident did not affect the celebrations in Times Square, which were not interrupted.
Authorities opened an investigation to determine the motive for the attack, but said they did not believe there was an active threat to the population.
Every year, the city’s police department mounts a major security operation for the New Year’s Eve party and deploys thousands of officers to the area, including many new recruits. One of the injured had graduated from the academy the day before, said the mayor, Eric Adams.
The blocks where the biggest crowds gather to watch the musical performances and the ball drop at midnight can only be accessed through security checkpoints where authorities use metal detectors to search for weapons. Backpacks and large coolers are prohibited and barriers are installed to prevent car attacks.