Police continue to look for Union Square hammer attacker

New York police continued the hunt Tuesday for a man accused of hitting two women in the head with a hammer in two separate attacks near Union Square on Monday evening.

The first assault happened when the suspect approached a 28-year-old woman who was sitting on a bench in Union Square around 7:30 p.m. The man, who has not been caught, took a hammer out of his bag and hit her in the head. She was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital in stable condition.

About 10 minutes later, on West 17th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, a 33-year-old woman was hit in the back of her head. She was treated for a scalp injury and was later listed in stable condition at Lenox Hill Hospital.

The suspect believed to be responsible for both attacks is a black male in his 30s with a medium build. He was wearing a black jacket, baseball hat, dark jeans and black sneakers, and was carrying a backpack.

The man might be linked to a third hammer attack earlier in the day. A man was hit in the head with a hammer around 2 p.m. in the area of Sixth Avenue and 35th Street. Police are investigating if that attack is related.

“That’s sounds really bizarre… really scary,” said 19-year-old student Tori Mumtaz, who was enjoying the park Tuesday afternoon. “That’s actually really frightening.”

Mumtaz said she will definitely be looking over her shoulder after learning of the attack.

Park goer Leslie Leon, 17, was also shaken.

“This is my first time hearing about it but I’m scared. Why is he doing that?”

Police released a surveillance photo of the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or submit their tip online.