NYPD hatchet attack - A Muslim man's violent descent on a group of police officers in New York on Thursday afternoon has taken law enforcement authorities unexpectedly.

According to a statement by the New York Police Department, at about 2 p.m. yesterday, four rookie officers on foot patrol were posing for a photograph on the request of a freelance photographer when Zale Thompson charged at them.

The 32-years-old suspect swung at Joseph Meeker, who protected himself with his arm, and sustained an injury in the process. Another officer Kenneth Healey was hit on the head by Thompson before he was shot and killed by the two other officers at the scene.

An investigation has been launched into the NYPD hatchet attack. At the moment it is unclear if the incident is linked to Islamic extremist terrorism. Reports indicate that Thompson is a convert to the Islamic religion and his social media records shows that he has extremist leanings and graduated from the Teacher's College of Columbia University in 2011.

CCTV footages show that the attack was planned. The police have revealed that the suspect stopped and crouched to remove the axe from his bag before the NYPD hatchet attack.

Reports indicate that a female bystander was hit with a stray bullet as officers shot at Thompson to stop his rampage. All the three injured casualties of the NYPD hatchet attack have been taken to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center nearby. The casualties are all reported to be in stable condition.

The NYPD hatchet attack comes in the wake of series of daring terrorist gruesome assaults in western countries. Earlier in the week, Canada's Parliament Hill came under attack after a gunman penetrated into the building, killing a guard in the process. Experts say incidents like the NYPD hatchet attack are crucial because they reveal loopholes that terrorists look to capitalize on.