Authorities in New York City are investigating a disturbing incident that occurred on a No. 1 train in lower Manhattan on Saturday afternoon. A 23-year-old man was the victim of a random attack when another passenger set a cup of liquid on fire and threw it at him, causing his shirt to ignite and resulting in injuries.
The victim, who was accompanied by his fiancee and cousin, bravely shielded them from the burning liquid. He sustained burns on approximately one-third of his body and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Recounting the harrowing experience, he described how he slapped himself to extinguish the flames.
The suspect, a 49-year-old man, was swiftly apprehended by law enforcement after they traced a stolen phone, which he allegedly took from another subway rider, to his location. The charges against the suspect have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation at this time.
This incident follows a similar attack in February, where an individual threw a container of flaming liquid at a group of people on a subway platform at the West 28th Street station. While violent crimes are uncommon in the city's subway system, recent high-profile incidents, including a fatal shoving incident in East Harlem and several shootings, have raised concerns among commuters.
In response to these security challenges, Governor Kathy Hochul announced in March that additional measures would be implemented to enhance safety in the subway system. This includes the deployment of hundreds of National Guard members and an increase of 800 police officers to crack down on fare evasion.
