Police are searching for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman at knifepoint in Central Park on Saturday evening, in an incident that has heightened concerns about nighttime safety.
The attack occurred around 8:30 p.m. on October 24 near Fifth Avenue and East 66th Street, according to police accounts reported by ABC7 and West Side Rag. A man approached the 39-year-old woman with a knife before sexually assaulting her in a wooded area of the park, authorities said.
The woman was taken to a hospital following the assault. The suspect fled, and no arrests had been made as of Sunday, according to ABC7’s report updated early Monday. Investigators described the man being sought as believed to be in his 30s, wearing a black hoodie and black sweatpants and carrying a black backpack.
Initial reporting by the New York Post placed the incident near East 67th Street, while other local outlets cited East 66th Street. Both locations are along the park’s eastern edge beside Fifth Avenue.
Nearby residents interviewed by the Post expressed unease about walking in the area after dark. One resident said he had recently walked his dog along the same path and was concerned about his fiancée’s safety during nighttime walks.
The investigation remains ongoing, with details about the suspect still limited in the latest available reporting.
