(MAINNEWS) – Two men were stabbed in Midtown New Year’s Eve, just steps away from the Times Square spot where revelers gather to celebrate — with one victim being knifed at least eight times, police said.
The first bloody episode happened at around 11 a.m. Saturday near Seventh Avenue and West 40th Street, the NYPD said.
Police identified the “uncooperative” victim as a man in his 20s, who was stabbed “around eight times” about his body, an NYPD spokesperson said. Sources said he was stabbed on the street.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, cops said.
Police are looking for a suspect described as a man in his 20s who was wearing a black jacket, black pants and white sneakers, and carrying a red bag. The attacker ran south on Seventh Avenue, authorities said.
Remnants of the shocking stabbing were evident Saturday afternoon. Blood was visible near the Times Square 42nd Street station on the corner of 40th Street and Seventh and blood-soaked clothing was spotted on the ground near an NYPD cruiser, which had blood smeared on it.
A second male was knifed shortly before 9 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue, cops said. No further details were immediately known.
The incidents occurred amid fatal stabbings and slashings being up an alarming 37% in the Big Apple this year as of mid December, according to NYPD data.
By Tina Moore, Larry Celona, Valentina Jaramillo and Dean Balsamini
