Woman Killed After Being Set on Fire on New York Subway Train
NEW YORK, Dec 22 A horrifying incident unfolded on Sunday morning in Brooklyn, New York, when a woman was set on fire aboard a subway train, resulting in her death. Police have since arrested a suspect connected to the attack.
The Incident
At approximately 7:30 a.m. (1230 GMT), the woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was sitting motionless inside a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), an unknown man calmly approached her and used a lighter to ignite her clothing.
Investigators revealed there was no prior interaction between the victim and the suspect, and they do not believe the two were acquainted.
Police and Witness Accounts
The suspect exited the train moments after setting the woman on fire. Police officers on routine patrol at the station rushed to the scene upon noticing the flames.
“What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a press conference.
Bystanders captured the harrowing scene on cellphone video, later shared on social media. The footage shows a man dressed in a gray hoodie, resembling the suspect, sitting on a platform bench a few steps away from the burning victim.
When asked if the man seen on the bench was the attacker, police stated that responding officers initially had no reason to suspect him, as their immediate focus was on aiding the woman.
Emergency Response
Officers used fire extinguishers to douse the flames. Tragically, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
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Arrest of the Suspect
Later on Sunday, authorities arrested a man riding the subway who matched the suspect’s description. His identity has not yet been publicly released.
This chilling incident has sent shockwaves through the city, with many calling for heightened safety measures on public transit systems. Police continue their investigation as the city grapples with this tragedy.
