Canadian Man Stabbed in Random Attack in New York City: Police

A general view of the skyline of Manhattan as seen from the One World Trade Center Tower in New York City on June 15, 2021. Mike Segar/File Photo/Reuters

A Canadian tourist visiting New York City is recovering after being stabbed in the leg on Dec. 29.

The incident happened at Bryant Park, near the city’s Winter Village in Manhattan, according to the New York Police Department.

Police responded to a 911 call about a man who had been stabbed at West 40th Street and Sixth Avenue around 5:35 p.m. Officers found a 44-year-old man who had been stabbed in the left leg.

The man told police that he had been visiting the Winter Village and had stopped to tie his shoe when he felt something pierce his leg, according to media reports. The Canadian said he didn’t notice he had been hurt until he saw he was bleeding as he walked away. The man went to a nearby store to check his injury.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment in stable condition, according to police.

He told police he did not see the suspect. It is not clear if New York police have video of the stabbing.

Police said there have been no arrests in the case and the investigation remains ongoing.

No description or image of a potential suspect have been released. Police have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

The incident comes after another Canadian tourist died while snorkeling in Florida, north of Palm Beach.

Local fire rescue workers located the man about 40 to 50 yards (36 to 45 metres) offshore and said they “worked tirelessly” to remove him from the water under “rough conditions.”

CPR was initiated and the man was transported to Jupiter Medical Center’s emergency room, according to a social media post by first responders.

The family told authorities that the man had been snorkeling before the incident and was “unfamiliar with local water conditions.”

The man was later identified as Assaf Alek Golan, 51, of Côte-Saint-Luc, Quebec, according to media reports.

In another holiday incident, seven Canadians, along with dozens of others, were injured in a train collision near Machu Picchu, Peru, on Dec. 30, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has been in touch with local authorities and is providing “consular assistance,” Anand said.

The crash occurred when an Inca Rail train collided with a PeruRail train around the archaeological site of Qoriwayrachina near Machu Picchu.

GAC has not released the identities of any of the Canadians injured in the collision, and has not provided any further information on the severity of the injuries.

Paul Rowan Brian contributed to this report.