NYPD: Woman stabs 3 infants, 2 adults at nursery in Queens

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - A woman stabbed five people, including three baby girls, at a neighborhood nursery in Flushing, Queens, early Friday, the NYPD said. The woman then tried to end her life.

One of the babies is three days old and suffered a stab wound to the stomach, another is 20 days old and suffered lacerations to the ear, chin, and lip. The third baby is one month old and suffered a stab wound to the stomach. The infants are in critical but stable condition at area hospitals.

A female worker at the center was stabbed eight times in the torso and a 31-year-old man who tried to stop the assaults was stabbed in the leg. Police said he is the father of a child who was at the daycare center. It is not clear whether his child was among those stabbed.

A 911 call at 3:44 a.m. alerted police to the assaults at a multi-family building at 43-67 161st Street. Nine babies were inside the building.

The alleged attacker is a 52-year-old woman. Police found her in the basement with a slash wound to her left wrist.

The facility is being referred to as something of a maternity hotel—part nursery, part birthing center.  And it is wholly unregulated and unlicensed, according to the state.

Local elected officials said it appears that pregnant Chinese immigrants give birth at Mei Xen Care Inc. to establish their child's residency and to convalesce for a month, in keeping with Chinese tradition.

When reached by email, OCFS only said: "OCFS is saddened by this horrific situation and investigating it as a possible illegal operation."

Two knives were recovered at the scene, according to police. A motive for the stabbings hasn't been determined. All the victims were listed in critical but stable condition.

The alleged attacker is expected to recover. No immediate charges were filed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.