A total of five people were stabbed or slashed during a large fight at an illegal after-hours club in Upper Manhattan, police said.
The fight broke out in the basement of the after-hours club on Amsterdam Avenue near West 171 Street sometime before 6 a.m., police said.
Three women, ages 24 to 44, were stabbed in the melee, police said. The 24-year-old was stabbed in the stomach, a 30-year-old woman was slashed on the left side of her face, and the 44-year-old woman, who allegedly runs the club, was slashed in the chest, police said.
All were taken to area hospitals.
Two men, 31 and 28, were also victims of the knife attack.
The 31-year-old was stabbed once in the stomach and transported to Harlem Hospital, police said. The 28-year-old was slashed in the chest and taken to Columbia Presbyterian.
All five victims are expected to survive their injuries.
Local
Elisa Highland said that she didn't know the club was even operating in the building. She described the chaos in the aftermath of the violence.
"I heard a lot of yelling," Highland said. "People were arguing...and running up the street."
Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said that underground clubs like the one where the victims and suspects attended on Wednesday are a public safety risk.
"When anyone runs a business without proper licenses or permits, they put people in danger," Rodriguez said.
Police are searching for two men in connection to the attack. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information about the stabbings should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
