"Someone has in fact been arrested and charges are pending," a spokesman for the New York Police Department told AFP. The officer said the suspect would be publicly identified later.

According to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the elderly bird watching enthusiast was mugged and raped Wednesday in broad daylight near Strawberry Fields, the memorial to murdered Beatle John Lennon.

The victim told the New York Post that she'd run into the man recently when he was masturbating in the world famous park and had taken a picture of him. On Wednesday, he allegedly jumped on her and stole her camera, which she had for taking pictures of birdlife in the park's woods.

A passerby found her beaten and lying on the ground.

The woman, who has not been identified, told the Post that she had no forgiveness for her assailant.

"Kill him. Cut off his penis," she said. "I hope he goes to jail for a long time and he gets raped over and over again."