A pedestrian has died and another was injured following a random stabbing rampage by a woman in her 40s at Times Square, a major tourist attraction in New York, US.

According to the New York Post on the 31st, a 49-year-old woman residing in Queens, New York, consecutively stabbed two pedestrians that afternoon at around 4:30 PM.

The woman, who came to Times Square carrying two knives in a shopping bag, approached a 68-year-old man standing with his wife at a crosswalk near 7th Avenue and 41st Street, which divides New York north and south, and stabbed him in the abdomen.

Just seconds later, she also stabbed a 32-year-old woman who was passing by in the abdomen.

The victims were rushed to a hospital, but the female victim died from her injuries.

The male victim is reportedly in stable condition.

The incident occurred in a core area of Times Square, a location densely packed with tourists and heavily patrolled by police.

Police have not disclosed whether the victims were tourists or New York residents.

The woman, after stabbing the two pedestrians, then engaged in a standoff with police near 43rd Street.

Police deployed a Taser against the woman when she refused to surrender, but failed to subdue her.

Subsequently, two police officers opened fire on the woman as she advanced while brandishing the weapons.

The woman received emergency medical treatment at the scene, but was pronounced dead.

According to the NYPD, the female assailant has a prior record with police related to mental health issues.

Police are investigating the motive behind the crime, but stated that no evidence linking it to terrorism has been found.

This marks the second homicide to occur in Times Square this year, following a fatal stabbing of a man last May.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)