NEW YORK — A man is accused of setting a subway passenger on fire Saturday afternoon, and the NYPD says he was behind a similar attack a few months ago.
Officers were called to an attack in progress on the 1 line platform of the Houston Street station and when they arrived they saw 23-year-old Alijaj Petrit with his shirt off and severely burned.
Investigators say a homeless man, now identified as 49-year-old Nile Taylor, threw a flammable liquid at the victim for no reason and left.
Taylor was arrested near the Holland Tunnel and is now facing charges including attempted assault, reckless endangerment and arson. Police said the victim is recovering at NewYork-Presbyterian and is expected to survive.
“It’s horrific,” subway passenger Chloe Leone said of the alleged attack.
Detectives say Taylor threw a burning container of flammable liquid at a group of people standing on the south platform 1 of the West 28th Street station in February. No one was injured.
NYC is cracking down on subway crimes
While violent crimes are rare there have been cases in the subway system, which serves about 3 million travelers a day some high-profile attacksincluding the death of a man who was pushed onto the tracks in East Harlem in March.
Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul made this announcement hundreds of National Guard members would enter the subway system to increase safety. The NYPD said an additional 800 officers would be deployed across the subway crackdown on tariff evasion.
Around the same time, city officials announced plans to use it weapon detection technology in the subway after they said transit crime was up 4% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Metro riders say they are always on their guard
Leone, like others who ride the rails, said she keeps her head on a turntable when she’s underground.
“Hopefully people will travel in pairs so they can stay safe,” Leone said. “I pray for the person who was burned. It’s very tragic.”
As for commuters who have no choice but to use the subway, “You just have to be alert and keep your eyes open,” one woman said.
“Crazy things happen, all kinds of things. It’s terrible. I take this train often,” said another woman. “We’re in New York City. I feel like we risk it every day. I don’t make eye contact with anyone. It keeps me pretty safe, stay to myself.”
