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Four homeless men beaten to death in New York City as they slept

New York Police Department officers investigate the scene of an attack in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 in New York.  Four men who are believed to be homeless were brutally attacked and killed early Saturday in a street rampage. NYPD Detective Annette Shelton said that a fifth man remained in critical condition after also being struck with a long metal object that authorities recovered. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)
New York Police Department officers investigate the scene of an attack in Manhattan's Chinatown neighbourhood (Picture: AP)

Four homeless men have been beaten to death in New York City.

The victims were attacked in the early hours of Saturday as they slept in Chinatown, Manhattan.

A fifth man was also assaulted and he remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Police arrested a homeless man, 24, in connection with the murders but he has not yet been charged.

He was allegedly found holding a three-foot metal object that was covered in blood, according to the New York Post.

The newspaper added the object appeared to have been picked up from a building site.

New York Police Department mark the scene of an attack in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 in New York.  Four men who are believed to be homeless were brutally attacked and killed early Saturday in a street rampage. NYPD Detective Annette Shelton said that a fifth man remained in critical condition after also being struck with a long metal object that authorities recovered. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)
New York Police Department mark the scene of an attack in Manhattan's Chinatown (Picture: AP)

NYPD confirmed they retrieved a long metal object they think is the murder weapon.

Police added the attacks took place in three separate areas, with the first assault being reported in Bowery Street.

When officers arrived at that location at 2am they found a man lying on the ground unconscious.

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NYPD Assistant Chief Stephen Hughes said: "When the responding officers arrived at the location, they discovered an unconscious male lying in the street with severe head trauma.

“Two witnesses informed the responding officers than an unarmed male, wearing a black jacket and black pants struck the victim numerous times in the head with a metal object."

All of the deceased victims, who have not been named, were confirmed to have died from head trauma.

Police are still trying to establish a motive for the murders.

NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Baldassano said at the moment the killings appeared to be random attacks.

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