NEW YORK — A gunman in a gas mask and an orange construction vest tossed a smoke bomb into a southbound R train and then opened fire on passengers early Tuesday, wounding five people, police sources said.
The mayhem began just before 8:30 a.m. at the 25th St. station in Sunset Park. As the doors closed, the man in the vest threw several smoke bombs into a train car as the doors closed and started firing, NYPD sources said.
When the train reached the 36th St. stop, the doors opened and the wounded commuters collapsed on the platform, terrifying people waiting for the train.
“Either shots or a bomb went off at 36th Street,” witness Roddy Broke wrote on Twitter. “Scariest moment of my life, man.”
Other witnesses reported seeing wounded people, all adults, coming out of both the 36th St. and the 25th St. stations.
“I was heading into 36th Street Station in Brooklyn when a young guy who was bleeding from the legs said people were injured and bleeding,” witness Conrad Aderer said.
Multiple witnesses called 911 about an explosion with four people either shot or hit by shrapnel, according to preliminary reports. A fifth person was found shot on 25th St. and Fourth Ave.
One of the victims was unconscious and in critical condition, police said.
The gunman was described as wearing a gas mask and an orange construction vest, possibly an MTA vest. He was also carrying construction tools.
Firefighters were sent to the 36th St. station on a report of smoke coming from the train station. When they arrived, they found “multiple people shot” and several undetonated smoke bombs an FDNY source said.
An NYPD spokeswoman said there were reports of smoke coming from the station and “possible people shot,” but had no further information. Police and members of the NYPD Bomb Squad were heading to the area with caution.
The gunman remained at large Tuesday morning.
Cops from all over the city, as well as NYPD Aviation units have been called in to help investigate and secure the area. Fourth Ave. between 25th and 36th Sts. have been shut down as police continue to investigate.
The MTA shut down D/N/R service through most of Brooklyn and parts of Manhattan, a spokesman said. Major delays on all B/D/F/N/Q/R and W trains were expected throughout Brooklyn as a result.
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