New York's violent crime free day

Police in New York say the city has enjoyed a day entirely free of violent crime for the first time in living memory.

The city police department's chief spokesman said Monday was the most bloodshed-free 24-hour period in recent history.

Not a single murder, shooting, stabbing or other incident of violent crime was reported for a whole day, reports the BBC.

Despite a July spike in homicides, the city's murder rate is on target to hit its lowest point since 1960.

Just a few months ago, residents were living through what one tabloid newspaper called the "summer of blood".

Despite the fall in homicides, statistics point to a 3% overall rise in crime.

But killings are now down 23% compared with last year, which represents a 50-year low.

There have been 366 murders so far this year in New York City, compared with 472 at this time last year.

Experts say such a low number of homicides is highly unusual for a US city of eight million people.

Gang-plagued Chicago, Illinois, has chalked up 462 murders this year, despite having a population of about 2.7 million people.