ADAMS’ BIG APPLE: Man Throws Flaming Liquid on New York City Subway, Burns Fellow Rider

A man ignited a cup of liquid and hurled it at another passenger on a New York City subway, causing the victim’s shirt to catch fire and injuring him.

The unprovoked attack occurred on a No. 1 train in lower Manhattan on Shabbos afternoon, according to city police, who reported that the suspect is now in custody.

The victim, a 23-year-old man, is recovering in a hospital. He told the New York Post that he protected his fiancée and cousin from the burning liquid, resulting in his own shirt catching fire. He extinguished the flames by slapping at himself. Medical professionals informed him that he suffered burns on approximately a third of his body.

“He had a cup,” the victim recounted to the Post. “He made fire and he threw it all.”

The suspect, a 49-year-old man, was apprehended shortly after the incident when police tracked a phone he allegedly stole from another subway rider to his location. The authorities have not yet disclosed the charges against him, and it is unclear if he has legal representation to respond to the allegations.

Police are also looking into a similar incident from February when a man threw a container of flaming liquid at a group of people on a subway platform at the West 28th Street station.

While violent crime is uncommon in the city’s subway system, which accommodates around 3 million passengers daily, some high-profile incidents this year have made riders uneasy. Notable events include the death of a man who was pushed onto the tracks in East Harlem in March and several shootings.

In response, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in March that hundreds of National Guard members would be deployed to the subway system to enhance security. Additionally, city police stated that 800 more officers would be assigned to the subway to address fare evasion and increase safety.

{Matzav.com}