Two teenage girls who were visiting the U.S. were stabbed Monday as they sat with their parents inside New York's Grand Central Terminal, according to New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Detectives said a 36-year-old New York resident was taken into custody shortly after the assaults, and they are still investigating whether bias played a role in the attack on the victims, who are from South America.

Police identified Steven Hutcherson as the suspect and said he faces charges of attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child, according to MTA.

Just before 11:30 a.m. Monday, two teens from South America were with their parents at Tartinery in the Grand Central Dining Concourse before Hutcherson attacked them. The 16-year-old girl was stabbed in the back, and the blade nicked her lung. The 14-year-old was stabbed in the thigh, WABC reported.

Both teens were rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, an MTAPD spokesperson said.

Suspect's dispute with food vendor preceded attack, reports say

WABC 7 reported that Hutcherson verbally disputed with Tartinery staff, who told him he could not sit in the restaurant's area. Police said he made statements about the teen girls being able to sit there. Authorities told WABC that he then pulled out a knife and stabbed the two girls.MTA police and NYPD told WABC that Hutcherson is "an emotionally disturbed person with 17 prior arrests."

"Any time you have incidents in these high profile locations, it sends the feeling of people don't feel safe, that's why we have to make sure we zero in, make the arrests as soon as possible and make sure we get those repeat offenders off the streets," NYC Mayor Eric Adams told WABC.

Suspect referenced 'green card' in prior threat, reports say

Before Monday's incident, Hutcherson was arrested in early November after police said he threatened to shoot a stranger in the Bronx, according to the New York Post."I'm gonna shoot you. I don't care what kind of green card the government gave you," he said, according to the criminal complaint obtained by the New York Post. "Open your mouth and say something. I will shoot you right now."He didn't shoot the victim; instead, police said he acted as if he was going to do so. Arriving officers did not find any guns on Hutcherson but did recover a knife, the New York Post said.