2 employees stabbed in Museum of Modern Art attack
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(NewsNation) — A 60-year-old patron of the Museum of Modern Art became agitated and attacked two employees after being denied entry on Saturday, New York City Police say.
The suspect, who was a member of the museum, tried to get inside but was told he would not be allowed in because of previous incidents. According to police, a letter stating his MoMA membership was revoked was sent out Friday.
The man jumped over the museum’s reception desk and stabbed two employees in the back, collarbone and neck. Both victims are in stable condition and are likely to survive, NewsNation local affiliate WPIX said. They were taken to Bellevue Hospital.
“This was a rapidly unfolding, spontaneous incident,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said.
Police are locating the man now, Miller said. A video showed him leaving the museum after the stabbing.
New York Mayor Eric Adams was briefed on what happened, his press secretary Fabien Levy said on Twitter.
“This appears to be an isolated, criminal incident,” he wrote. “The mayor will continue to monitor the situation and the progress of the two victims.”
MoMA, founded in 1929, is one of New York City’s top tourist attractions, and drew more than 700,000 visitors in 2020. Its collection of modern art includes “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh and works by Henri Matisse and Paul Gaugin.
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