Natalie Lewis
Police have started a manhunt for a mad man who is slashing people at random in late night city centre attacks.
During the latest attack on a woman walking in a New York subway train the madman yelled "I will chop you up".
"The police aren’t here now. You’re trying to get help from the crowd. They can’t help you! I can just chop you and they can’t do nothing."
He added: "I'll find your a** at home."
He then reached into his black messenger bag and pulled out the 2-foot blade — covered in cloth — and slashed at Lewis, but missed her, sources said.
The latest to suffer an attack is a 29-year-old Natalie Lewis, who was treated for a two inch gaping wound on her hand.
Subway cctv captures the man believed to be behind the attacks
Police said the number of stabbings and slashings in New York City this year has jumped by 14.86 % to 286 incidents since January 1 to Tuesday, January 26.
That compares with 249 incidents during the same period in 2015.
According to reports, the machete wielding maniac had earlier attacked a 32-year-old man, Christopher Santiago, on the day Lewis was attacked, slashing him in the face while at a subway station near East 117th St and Lexington Ave in East Harlem.
Another New York woman, Amanda Morris, 24, was slashed in the face while walking to work about 6am in the morning.
Watch the video: