A 52-years-old caregiver was charged in the knife attack on five people, including three newborn babies, at a home that was apparently being used as an unlicensed nursery for new mothers and their children.

The prosecutor said Yufen Wang of Flushing Queens was arraigned on Monday, on charges of attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

According to the report a message left with her lawyer was not immediately returned.

Wang is accused of stabbing and slashing a father, a female worker and three newborn babies inside the three-story residence in the Flushing section of Queens early on Friday last week and all were hospitalized and are expected to survive.

Reports indicate that Wang was apprehended in the building's basement with self-inflicted wounds to her neck and wrist he was charged with five counts of attempted murder.

The district attorney’s office said the nursery is in a neighbourhood popular with Chinese immigrants, and that nine babies were there during the attack.