The incident was reported shortly before 6:30 p.m. near Baxter and Worth streets. No words were exchanged between the victim and the suspect.
The suspect ran out after the attack. Passers-by came to the aid of the victim.
The 36-year-old Asian victim was taken to hospital.
The victim had to be operated on and officials said his condition was deteriorating,
The Asian Anti-Hate Crime Working Group has been convened to assist in the investigation. Currently, there was no evidence of a hate crime.
FYI …. tonight where worth and baxter, an Asian man was stabbed and our case is being treated and investigated @ NYPD5Pct who has also called on the Asian Hate Crime Working Group to assist in the investigation. There is currently no evidence of hate crime.
Rest assured.– Yuh-Line Niou (@yuhline) February 26, 2021
According to sources, a person of interest entered the Manhattan district attorney’s office and turned himself in to police.
They say the site security guard alerted authorities. Then came the officers who arrested the suspect.
Sources say they are currently being questioned at the 5th precinct.
Community members said they were outraged and angry after the latest attack on an Asian New Yorker.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials spoke earlier this week about the city’s renewed effort to tackle hate crimes against Asians.
“All communities suffered, but there has been a particular pain, a horrible challenge, facing the Asian American community,” de Blasio said. “Because in addition to all the suffering of the coronavirus itself, in addition to losing their loved ones by losing business, people have had to face horrible discrimination and hatred.”
The Asian Hate Crime Task Force is concentrating on the entire city, but will pay special attention to the subway after an eruption of incidents in the traffic system.
Community leaders say the incident is just another reason why the task force should be funded and staffed full-time.
“You need to be able to give them the resources they need to help focus on solving the problem,” said community advocate Jenny Low. “I think they have very good officers who are well trained to do that. But a volunteer concert is still a volunteer concert.”
RELATED | Blasio mayor says Asian hate crime working group working to fight a series of partial crimes in New York
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