A startling security breach unfolded at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Thursday, as a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official was physically attacked during the UN General Assembly, as Fox News reports.

The assault, carried out by a woman labeled as a "deranged leftist," involved verbal abuse and physical aggression, raising serious concerns about U.N. security and triggering a Secret Service probe.

The HHS official was at the UNGA supporting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other department leaders. The incident began in the afternoon when the official was trailed into a bathroom inside the U.N. building.

Shocking confrontation unfolds

In the bathroom, the attacker unleashed a barrage of insults, labeling the official a "fascist" and a "Nazi," while also voicing pro-Palestinian sentiments. She used a bright light, which served as a recording tool, to film the official during the encounter.

The official sought refuge in a stall, but the woman attempted to barge in. The assailant kept filming and shouted harsh, aggressive taunts without relenting.

Even after the official emerged from the stall, the harassment continued for about 10 minutes as the woman followed her, yelling until the official finally escaped. "It was very disorienting," the official recalled. "Once I regained my composure, the attack didn’t cease."

Official shares traumatic experience

The official described the ordeal as deeply unsettling. "Her yelling escalated to screaming with intense, hostile insults," she said.

She also highlighted the political nature of the attack. "It felt heavily political," she noted. "Secretary Kennedy faces countless threats, and now it seems to affect the whole team."

Despite the distress, the official remained resolute. "It’s alarming for us," she acknowledged. "Yet, with strong leadership, we feel supported and empowered."

Outrage grows over security gaps

The New York City Police Department arrested the assailant, charging her with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and possession of a weapon. She was released from custody at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and is due in court on Nov. 13.

White House and U.S. officials have sharply criticized the incident, pointing to major flaws in U.N. security measures. "An HHS official was trailed into a bathroom, filmed, physically attacked, and verbally abused by a deranged leftist who somehow slipped through security layers at the U.N.," stated White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly.

Kelly further remarked, "Thankfully, the official is unharmed, and the attacker was apprehended, but this reflects a troubling pattern of U.N. failures, especially after their actions against President Trump during his address." She also pressed, "The U.N. must explain why such alarming events keep targeting the president and his staff."

Demands for protocol changes emerge

The U.S. Secret Service is now examining how the woman gained entry past multiple security checkpoints. A U.S. U.N. spokesperson voiced anger, saying, "We are appalled that a U.S. delegation member was physically attacked inside UN Headquarters on the afternoon of September 25."

The spokesperson slammed the U.N.’s broader shortcomings, declaring, "The U.N. admits it has strayed from its mission. Now, it’s become a place where a U.S. official faces harassment and assault. If safety can’t be ensured within your own walls, how can you lead global diplomacy?"

Pressure for change has intensified, with the spokesperson urging, "The U.N. desperately needs sweeping reform and must urgently review its security practices. Its failures are clear across the globe, and now within its own corridors. This cannot continue."