Officials said at least five people were stabbed and one victim had serious wounds.
NEW YORK — Six people were taken to hospitals after a stabbing inside Penn Station on Sunday evening, and a suspect was quickly taken into custody after Amtrak police launched a manhunt, officials said.
The attack unfolded around 7 p.m. inside one of the nation’s busiest transit hubs, where Amtrak, NJ Transit, Long Island Rail Road and subway riders move through the complex beneath Madison Square Garden. The FDNY said at least five people were stabbed. One person had serious injuries, two had moderate injuries and others had minor wounds.
Five victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, while another person was transported to a separate hospital. Officials did not immediately say why the sixth person was hospitalized or release that person’s condition. Police sources said a knife was recovered at the scene. Authorities had not released the suspect’s name, charges or a motive by Monday morning.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Sunday night that the alleged attacker was in custody after a swift response by Amtrak police. “My heart is with everyone who was injured, their loved ones, and all those shaken by this unacceptable violence,” Mamdani said. He said the city was in contact with Amtrak officials as the investigation continued.
Video from the scene showed Amtrak officers taking the suspect down inside the station. One witness said officers used pepper spray before tackling him. Another witness, Michael Christian, told CBS News New York that the man was “just screaming” and moving his head around before police detained him.
Investigators were treating the attack as a random act of violence in its early stage, a law enforcement source told CBS News. A high-ranking NYPD source said the stabbing had no terror nexus. Officials described the suspect as an emotionally disturbed person, but they did not release more details about his background.
The stabbing came as New York prepared for large crowds around Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals. President Donald Trump was expected to attend the game, bringing added security from the Secret Service, NYPD and other agencies. Authorities had not said whether the Penn Station attack would change those plans.
By late Sunday, the immediate panic had eased, but parts of the station remained roped off near Tracks 5 and 6. Travelers moved past discarded medical supplies and blood on the floor as police and transit officials continued their work.
The investigation remained active Monday morning, June 8. Officials had not announced charges, a court appearance or a final count of victims’ conditions.
Author note: Last updated June 8, 2026.