Woman Sexually Assaulted at Knifepoint in Central Park, Suspect Sought

A 39-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at knifepoint in Central Park near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue on Saturday night, just after 8:30 p.m. An unidentified man approached the woman, displayed a knife and carried out the assault. The victim was taken to a local hospital and was listed in stable condition. No arrests have been made, and police have not released a suspect description. NYPD vehicles were seen patrolling the park throughout much of Sunday. City Council Member Virginia Maloney, who represents the area, called on the NYPD to identify the attacker, saying it is critical that women and all people feel safe in Central Park at any hour. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin also reacted, expressing confidence that the NYPD would move swiftly to apprehend the perpetrator. According to NYPD statistics, four rapes have been reported in the Central Park Precinct so far this year, compared to three at the same point last year. The incident comes just days after a separate attack on October 18, in which a 32-year-old woman said she was punched and robbed by three men near West 93rd Street and West Drive while retrieving her AirPods. No arrests have been made in that case either.