29.10.2026 20:31
In New York City, USA, in the famous Central Park, a 39-year-old woman was threatened with a knife, taken to a wooded area, and raped. After the attack, security camera footage emerged of the suspect who fled, and police launched an operation to catch him. Security measures were increased after the incident, which was the fifth rape case recorded in the park this year.
A 39-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in the world-famous Central Park in New York City, USA. It was determined that the attacker took the woman to a wooded section of the park, and a large-scale operation was launched to catch the suspect who fled after the incident. Police have taken the suspect's security camera footage under review.
HE THREATENED THE WOMAN WITH A KNIFE AND TOOK HER TO A WOODED AREA
The incident occurred on Saturday, October 24, at around 8:30 p.m. local time in Central Park in Manhattan, New York.
A man whose identity has not yet been determined approached the 39-year-old woman walking in the section of the park near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue.
The suspect took the woman, whom he threatened with a knife, to a secluded and wooded area of the park and sexually assaulted her.
POLICE TOOK ACTION AFTER A PERSON IN THE AREA REPORTED IT
After a person who noticed the attack called 911, police and medical teams were dispatched to the area.
After the report, the attacker fled toward the west side of the park and disappeared from sight.
Teams arriving at the scene took the woman who was attacked to the hospital. It was announced that the health condition of the 39-year-old woman, who was taken under treatment, was stable.
SUSPECT'S FOOTAGE TAKEN UNDER REVIEW
New York police have begun examining security cameras in and around the park to identify the attacker.
Because the footage obtained in the initial examinations was not clear, difficulties were experienced in identifying the suspect.
The attacker, assessed to be in his 30s, was determined to have been wearing a black hooded top and black trousers during the incident and carrying a black backpack with him.
Police have also taken security cameras outside the park under review in order to determine the suspect's escape route.
FIFTH RAPE CASE IN CENTRAL PARK THIS YEAR
After the attack, security measures in Central Park began to be discussed again.
According to police data, four rape cases were recorded in the park from the beginning of 2026 to October 18. With the latest attack, this number rose to five.
In the same period of 2025, three cases had been recorded.
While crimes in the park increased by about 20 percent compared to last year, it was reported that police teams increased their patrols, especially on walking paths and in wooded areas.
ANOTHER WOMAN WAS ALSO ATTACKED A WEEK EARLIER
About a week before the incident in Central Park, a 32-year-old woman had also been attacked.
On October 18, the woman, who was returning home by bicycle, reported that she had been attacked by three men in the section of the park near West 93rd Street.
It was stated that the suspects beat the woman and then took her bag and fled. Police are also continuing their efforts to catch the perpetrators of this incident.
STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK MAYOR
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacted to the sexual assault in Central Park and emphasized that everyone living in the city should be able to move safely at any time of day.
Mamdani, stating that efforts were being carried out to provide the necessary support to the woman who was attacked, said that they were acting in coordination with the police to prevent similar incidents and catch the perpetrators.
While New York police continue their investigation to catch the attacker, no detention has yet been made regarding the incident.