After years of declining homicide rates, the number of murders in New York City this year has surpassed the number recorded in 2005, according to police department figures.

There were 579 murders reported in New York City through December 24, compared with 527 last year at this time, according to police records. The change represents a 9.8% increase. There were 539 homicides in all of 2005.

The police department’s deputy commissioner of public information, Paul Browne, said there has been an “odd doubling” of the number of victims from prior assaults who died this year. “Murders are up compared to the same period last year, which was the lowest in 43 years,” he wrote in statement sent via e-mail. “So we are ending the year with the second- or third-lowest year for murders in 44 years.”

Officials also placed partial blame for the uptick on the availability of illegal guns purchased from out-of-state dealers, who have been the target of two sets of lawsuits filed by the city.

According to the police department’s most recent CompStat report, which recorded crimes committed through December 24, certain areas of the city experienced sharp increases in the number of killings, including Harlem, where the murder rate has doubled in some precincts.

There were 11 murders in Central Harlem’s 28th precinct this year compared with five at the same time last year. In Harlem’s 30th precinct, there have been 12 murders so far this year, compared with six last year.

Murders also increased in the 103rd precinct, where Sean Bell was fatally shot by police. According to police data, there were 14 murders in that neighborhood so far this year, compared with nine last year.