A mum on holiday was stabbed multiple times in a department store as she changed her 10-month-old child's nappy, police have said.

The 39-year-old victim from Southern California was attacked in a bathroom on the seventh floor of Macy’s Herald Square at around 3pm on Thursday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) said. The victim, who had been visiting New York City with her family at the time of the attack, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. The baby was not injured during the horrific attack, according to police.

The suspect has been identified by the NYPD as 43-year-old Kerri Aherne, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She has since been arrested and charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Aherne appeared in court on Friday afternoon.

The woman's name has not been released. Officials said both she and her husband are employed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). The victim's husband was able to disarm the female suspect after the attack and subdued her until authorities arrived on the scene, police said.

LASD officials said: "The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was notified by the New York Police Department of an incident that occurred at Macy’s Department Store on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The victim and her significant other are both employees of the LASD. The NYPD is the lead investigative agency, and any additional information regarding this incident will be released by the NYPD."

A spokesperson for Macy's told Fox News : "We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place [yesterday] as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority. We kindly defer any further questions to the local authorities."