The NYPD asserts that a man who set a subway rider on fire on Saturday afternoon was also responsible for a similar incident a few months earlier.
Officers responded to an incident on the 1-line platform at the Houston Street station and discovered 23-year-old Alijaj Petrit with his shirt off and badly burned.
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According to investigators, a homeless guy, 49-year-old Nile Taylor, tossed a combustible liquid at the victim and then fled.
Authorities caught Taylor near the Holland Tunnel and are currently accusing him of attempted assault, reckless endangerment, and arson. According to the police, the victim is healing at New York Presbyterian Hospital and is likely to survive.
“This is horrifying,” metro rider Chloe Leone remarked about the alleged attack.
According to detectives, Taylor tossed a lit canister of flammable liquid into a crowd gathered on the northbound 1 train platform at the West 28th Street station in February. Nobody was wounded.
NYC cracking down on subway crimes
In the New York City subway system, which caters to approximately 3 million riders daily, instances of violent crime are infrequent. However, there have been notable incidents, such as the tragic death of a man who was pushed onto the tracks in East Harlem back in March.
Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul made an announcement stating that several hundred National Guard members would be deployed to the subway system to enhance security. In addition, the NYPD revealed plans to allocate an additional 800 officers to crack down on fare evasion in the subway.
City officials have recently revealed their intentions to implement weapon detection technology in the subway. This decision comes in response to a reported 4% increase in crime within the transit system in 2024, as compared to the previous year, 2023.
Subway riders say they are always on guard
Leone, like other rail passengers, said she kept her head on a swivel while underground.
“Hopefully, people are traveling in pairs so they can stay safe,” Leone stated. “I am praying for the person who was burned.” It’s very tragic.”
As for commuters who have no option but to take the train, “you just have to be alert and keep your eyes open,” Leone added.
“Everything is crazy. It’s dreadful. Another woman said, “I take this train all the time.” “We’re in New York City. Every day, I feel as if we are taking a risk.”
