A brutal assault in Central Park on Saturday morning has intensified concerns about rising crime in one of New York City’s most iconic public spaces.
At approximately 5:10 a.m., a 38-year-old woman was attacked near 85 East Drive by an unknown assailant who “pushed the victim over a metal fence, punched her in the face multiple times, and attempted to rape her,” according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). The attacker then fled the scene on a bicycle, traveling north on Fifth Avenue.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect wearing a hoodie and a backward baseball cap, as well as a large food delivery bag strapped to his back. The victim was quickly transported to a local hospital, where she is reported to be in stable condition.
The incident comes amid troubling statistics: crime in Central Park has risen by 13% year-to-date and is up 34% compared to two years ago. Although the number of reported rapes remains consistent with last year, robberies have more than doubled, with 37 incidents reported so far in 2024.
As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been made in connection with the attack.
