An Italian tourist, Paolo Rech, was attacked while sightseeing in Manhattan on Saturday. The 42-year-old computer science professor was randomly slashed by a woman while walking on Madison Avenue, just three blocks from Times Square. The attack left Rech with a cut on his right hand, and the assailant fled the scene, according to a New York Post report.
Rech described the incident to Eyewitness News, saying, "I just passed next to her and she just turned around quickly and stabbed me." He recounted how the woman seemed to be staring blankly at a Wi-Fi kiosk as if in a trance, and, after the attack, appeared to go back to looking at the sign, completely lost in her mind. Rech, who is in town to speak at NYU, fortunately only sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Witnesses described the attacker. She is said to be in her 30s, around 5-foot-7, and was last seen wearing a black jacket, purple sweater, black pants, and black and white sneakers. "She just turned around and slashed him," a local witness named Omar told the New York Post. Omar also relayed that the weapon appeared to be a small knife or possibly a box cutter, which the assailant retrieved from her jacket pocket before the attack.
A Danish tourist was attacked just days earlier on the Upper West Side, raising concerns for both locals and visitors. In that case, 25-year-old Joshua Zinberg was charged with attempted murder and assault. Despite his attack, Rech said, "I love New York City - there's nothing that can change that," as reported by Eyewitness News.
