Six stabbed at New York's Penn Station on eve of NBA Finals game Trump is set to attend

The attack

Six people were stabbed at Penn Station in New York on the evening of 7 June, according to the city's fire department and mayor. The alarm was raised around 7 p.m. at the intersection of West 33rd Street and 7th Avenue, near one of the main entrances to the transit hub. Emergency responders found one victim with serious injuries, two with moderate injuries, and two with light injuries. All five were transported to Bellevue Hospital. A sixth person was also stabbed and taken to a different hospital; officials have not yet released an update on that individual's condition.

My thoughts are with all those injured, their loved ones, and everyone shocked by this unacceptable violence. I wish each of the victims a full and speedy recovery.

The suspect

Amtrak police responded to the emergency call and took a suspect into custody. A New York police source told CBS News that the stabbing appeared to be an act of random violence. ABC News reported that the suspect may have had emotional problems. New York City Comptroller Mark Levine suggested on X that the suspect is believed to be a homeless person with severe mental health issues.

Many important questions are being raised about whether this suspect fell through the cracks of an overly porous mental health care system.

Authorities have not released the suspect's name or a formal motive. An AFP photographer who visited the scene afterward observed compresses, medical gloves, and blood on the ground near tracks 5 and 6.

Location and timing

Penn Station sits directly beneath Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks are set to host the San Antonio Spurs for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday evening. It is the first NBA Finals game at the arena since 1999. President Trump has said he plans to attend the nationally televised game, which has already prompted a heavy security deployment involving the Secret Service, the NYPD, and other agencies around the arena and surrounding blocks.

Authorities have not yet indicated whether the stabbing will affect security plans for the game. Public viewing screens originally planned by the city were cancelled after some incidents on Friday night during celebrations of the Knicks' second Finals victory.

Broader context

The station, which serves roughly 600,000 passengers daily on average, is also a key transit point for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Penn Station will serve MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is set to host eight matches including the final on 19 July. The NYC Emergency Management agency asked the public to avoid the area, warning of possible traffic delays, street closures, and public transport disruptions. However, normal activity in the station resumed later in the evening, and Mayor Mamdani confirmed there was no impact on Amtrak service at that time.