Grand Central chaos: machete attack injures 2, suspect shot

One of New York City's most recognizable landmarks became the scene of a violent and frightening attack on this morning, when a man allegedly armed with a machete slashed at least two people on a busy subway platform inside Grand Central Terminal, prompting police to open fire and take the suspect into custody. What began as a routine morning commute for thousands of New Yorkers quickly turned into a crisis that sent emergency responders flooding into the heart of Midtown Manhattan and brought major transit service to a halt.

What happened inside Grand Central

The incident unfolded on the uptown platform for the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 subway lines at around 9:43 a.m., when authorities received a report of a stabbing with multiple victims. Officers from the NYPD's Transit District 4 responded and encountered the suspect, who was allegedly still armed with a large bladed weapon described by witnesses as a machete. According to multiple reports, officers drew their weapons and issued repeated commands for the man to drop the blade. When he refused to comply, they opened fire, striking the suspect, who was then taken into custody.

A witness who spoke with WPIX described seeing at least one person slashed with what he identified as a machete before officers arrived. He stated that when he reached the uptown platform, police already had their weapons drawn and were issuing commands. Video recorded at the scene by a WPIX staff member who was present at the time shows what appears to be a machete lying on the ground near the suspect, who can be seen on the floor of the platform. Additional footage filmed from behind the police cordon reportedly shows bloodied clothing on the platform floor.

Victims and injuries

The New York City Fire Department confirmed it transported patients to area hospitals following the attack. At least two people were reported to be in critical condition as of this morning, with one victim observed to have sustained a serious laceration to the head. The identities of both the victims and the suspect had not been released by authorities as of the time of reporting.

Service disruptions across a major transit hub

Grand Central Terminal serves an estimated 750,000 people on an average weekday, making it one of the busiest commuter hubs in the United States. Following the attack, the MTA announced that Nos. 4, 5 and 6 trains would bypass Grand Central-42nd Street entirely while the investigation remained active. The NYPD also warned commuters and drivers to expect significant traffic delays, road closures and broader transit disruptions in the surrounding area as emergency personnel continued working the scene.

Governor Hochul responds

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed the attack on social media this morning, confirming she had been briefed on the incident. She described the assault as a senseless act of violence against innocent people and praised the officers who responded quickly to neutralize the threat. The governor confirmed that her office was working in close coordination with the NYPD as the investigation continued to unfold.

The attack is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents of violent crime on the New York City subway system, an issue that has drawn significant political attention and public concern in recent years. Authorities have not yet confirmed the suspect's identity, motive or current medical condition.