A man wielding a hatchet attacked New York City police officers who were standing for a photograph on Thursday. One of the two victims has been critically injured before they were able to fatally shoot the attacker, the police disclosed.

In a statement from the New York Police Department, the police officers attacked by the hatchet-wielding man had been posing for a picture in compliance with the request of a freelance photographer they met while going on foot patrol in the area.

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A man brandishing a hatchet suddenly attacked the police officers, swaying the weapon in their direction and hitting one of them in the right arm. When he swung the hatchet again, the other police officer was then struck in the head.

The two other officers, who were not hit by the assailant, began to fire their weapons at the attacker and shot him.

The suspect had been declared dead at the scene of the crime.

Although the identity of the attacker is yet to be confirmed, the police disclosed that he was a 32-year-old man.

The incident occurred within the vicinity of a Queens street at around 2 p.m., stated the NYPD spokesperson.

"At this point, no known motive for this attack has been established," announced Police Commissioner William Bratton during a press conference.

Apart from the two police officers wounded by the hatchet wielding man, the shooting of the attacker injured a bystander.

According to the NYPD spokesperson, the third victim is a 29-year-old female who is currently confined at the hospital. She was said to have been accidentally hit by a stray bullet caused by the incident. After undergoing the surgery for her wounds, she is already on her way to recovery at the moment.

On the other hand, the police officers struck by the attacker are both confined at Jamaica Hospital.

The officer who incurred a head injury is disclosed to be 25 years of age. He is slated to undergo surgery and declared to be in a critical condition.

The other police officer who was hit in his right is said to be 24 years of age. He has been announced to be in stable condition, as shared by the department's spokesman.

Tagshatchet, police, new york police, queens