Central Park Rape Latest of Five Attacks This Year, Alarming Locals
A woman was sexually assaulted at knifepoint in Central Park, marking the fifth such attack in the park this year and raising fears among residents.
A brutal knifepoint rape in Central Park on Saturday evening was the fifth sexual assault recorded in the iconic green space this year, fueling fear among New Yorkers. The attack occurred around 8:30 p.m. near East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue, where a woman was reportedly dragged into a wooded area and assaulted by an armed assailant who then fled, according to law enforcement sources.
Preliminary investigations suggest the victim did not know her attacker. The incident has intensified concerns for park safety, particularly after dark. "I typically avoid coming to Central Park at night," said Jetmir Shala, a local resident manager. "But the thing is, if it’s my wife, I tell her to stay away. ... Central Park, we always hear about these stories that’s going on, so it kind of just makes you second-guess if you wanna go in or not."
NYPD crime statistics reveal that this latest attack is the fifth rape within the Central Park Precinct this year, an increase from three reported rapes in the same period last year. Citywide, rape reports have climbed by nearly 3%, with 1,693 incidents through October 18 compared to 1,650 during the same period in 2025. While most major crimes in the city have seen decreases, rape, along with subway and hate crimes, have shown an upward trend.
Officials have attributed the rise in rape reports partly to changes in state law that broadened the definition of rape. However, this explanation offers little solace to residents concerned about safety in and around the park. Many locals point to issues such as.
vagrants occupying park benches and blind spots along walking paths as contributing factors to the perceived insecurity, especially at night. "I’ve been coming to New York for most of my life, and I just have been told over the years to never go in the park at dark," said Shirley Kessel, 65. "That’s how I grew up thinking. There’s certain streets you don’t walk down in New York City at night, and you don’t go in the park."
Another resident, Anna Brockway, 55, noted seeing people sleeping and drinking in the park, leading her to alter her dog-walking routes. "At night, when I walk my dog, I go around the corner. I try not to walk next to the park."