**Key Takeaways:**
– A suspect is being pursued by New York City police for allegedly launching a flaming container at individuals in a subway station on February 5.
– The incident took place around 7:40 p.m. at the West 28th Street station in Manhattan.
– No injuries have been reported from the incident.
– The NYPD has released footage of the suspect, who was seen holding two burning cans at the station’s turnstile.
– The suspect is described as a roughly 35-year-old man with a dark complexion, brown eyes, about 6 feet tall, and weighing 156 pounds.
– New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the deployment of New York National Guard troops and State Police troopers to the subway system to address transit crime.
– Despite a significant rise in January, crimes on public transit saw a 15.4% decrease in February compared to the previous year.
In a concerning event last month, New York City police are actively searching for an individual accused of hurling a flaming container at bystanders in a subway station. This alarming episode unfolded on the evening of February 5, around 7:40 p.m., at Manhattan’s West 28th Street subway station, as per the NYPD’s reports.
Thankfully, the incident did not result in any injuries. However, the NYPD has disseminated video footage capturing the suspect in the act. The footage reveals the individual at the station’s turnstile, menacingly holding two cans ablaze.
Authorities have provided a description of the suspect: a man believed to be about 35 years old, with a dark complexion and brown eyes, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 156 pounds. His last known attire includes a gray hooded sweatshirt under a black jacket, black pants, and black sandals.
In response to this incident and a general uptick in transit-related offenses, New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the deployment of New York National Guard troops and State Police troopers into the subway system. This measure aims to bolster safety and curb crime, supplementing the efforts of the 1,000 New York City police officers already patrolling subway lines and conducting bag checks.
This deployment follows a notable incident involving an attack on a subway conductor among other high-profile crimes, prompting heightened security measures in what is the nation’s largest transit system. Despite a shocking 45.1% increase in transit crimes in January, NYPD statistics indicate a 15.4% decrease in such crimes in February compared to the same month last year.
The NYPD urges anyone with information about the subway station incident to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline. This call to action underscores the community’s role in assisting law enforcement efforts to maintain safety and order in the city’s transit system.