Police are searching for a man who brutally attacked and attempted to rape a woman in Central Park early Saturday morning — as crime in the iconic Big Apple attraction continues to surge.
A 38-year-old woman was near 85 East Drive in the northern end of the park around 5:10 a.m. Saturday when she was approached by an unknown attacker, the NYPD said.
The assailant “pushed the victim over a metal fence, punched her in the face multiple times, and attempted to rape her,” police said.
He then fled the scene on a bicycle, riding out of the park going north on 5th Ave., police added.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a hoodie and a backward baseball cap on a bicycle. Images shared by the NYPD also appear to show the suspect wearing a large food delivery bag on his back.
The victim was taken by EMS to the hospital where she is in stable condition.
The vicious attack comes as crime is up 13% in Central Park year-to-day and up 34% compared with two years ago, according to NYPD data.
Two rapes have been reported to Central Park precinct cops so far this year — even with the same period of 2023. Robberies, however, have more than doubled, with 37 reported so far this year. Assaults are also up.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning.