Woman Attacked in Bryant Park By A Man Wielding A Machete

On Tuesday morning a man wielding a machete slashed a woman in Bryant Park in New York. The incident took place around 11:33 a.m. The suspect attacked the woman twice on the right arm. She was conscious, but in shock.

The victim was a 31-year-old Korean tourist identified as Im Soohyeoung. She was just leaving the place where she had finished teaching a yoga class when the attacker came from behind her. Because of the severe gash to her right arm she was rushed to the Bellevue Hospital Center. She is expected to recover fully.

The attacker was a 43-year-old man identified as Frederick Young. It seems that the man began swinging the machete wildly around noon.  He was caught on the south side of the park after he was pursued by the security and afterwards taken into custody. Barricades were put up in order to catch the attacker.

Police say that the attacker was not provoked and that the woman was sitting down when Young started to attack her. The man was taken into custody on the steps of the park while nearby somebody was holding the machete. In the meantime other bystanders made a tourniquet for the victim’s arms using a belt.

Witnesses said that after he slashed the woman Young walked away calmly. Carly Smith declared:

“I didn’t hear her screaming, I just heard everyone around her screaming, and then a gentleman took his shirt off and wrapped up her wound,” witness Carly Smith said. “I didn’t see the extent of it, but I did see the ambulance come by. There was a lot of blood and she seemed in shock.”

Other woman who was near the scene described the incident as absolutely insane.

According to the police Young had other 23 prior arrests. In 2010 he threatened somebody with a machete. Most recently he acknowledged that he stole items from a midtown Kmart. The things stolen included a backpack, a shirt, a hat, soap, deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush holder. All of these amounted to $45.  After the incident which occurred on Thursday, the man was charged with assault.

It is not the first time when such violent incident took place in Bryant Park. In November 2013 a boy who was only 16 years old opened fire the ice rink while trying to rob a coat. He was charged with attempt of murder after two people were injured.

Image Source: NY Daily News