A man in New York has been accused of a disturbing incident in a subway station where he allegedly threw a flammable substance on a stranger, causing burns before fleeing the scene. The incident, captured on video from February, shows the suspect holding two objects from which fire shoots out. Over the weekend, the suspect, identified as a 49-year-old man, was taken into custody.
The victim, a 23-year-old individual, suffered burns after the flammable substance ignited his shirt. Fortunately, the victim is reported to be in stable condition at the hospital. The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. on a Saturday at a downtown Manhattan subway station.
The suspect faces a total of eight charges, including assault, arson, and reckless endangerment. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred involving the suspect. In a separate incident in February, the suspect was arrested for throwing a lit container of flammable liquid at a group of people on a subway platform in downtown Manhattan. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that incident.
While subway crimes have seen an increase in arrests by the New York Police Department, with a rise of over 50% during the first quarter of this year, incidents like these are still considered rare. Most of the arrests are related to gun violence or fare evasion, making incidents like the one involving the flammable substance particularly alarming for subway riders.
As of now, the motive behind the attacks remains unknown, and details about the suspect's court appearance and legal representation are yet to be disclosed. The NYPD continues to investigate the incidents to ensure the safety of subway passengers and address any concerns regarding public transportation security.
