Man accused of attacking NYC subway passengers with flaming liquid

NEW YORK — A man lit a cup of liquid on fire and threw it at another New York City subway passenger, igniting the victim's shirt and injuring him, police said Sunday.

The random attack took place Saturday afternoon on a No. 1 train in lower Manhattan, city police said, adding that the suspect was in custody on various criminal charges. Authorities also charged the man for a similar attack on the subway in February.

Saturday's victim, a 23-year-old man, was recovering in hospital. He told the New York Post that he shielded his fiancée and cousin from the hot liquid and that his shirt caught fire. He said he slapped himself to put out the flames. Doctors told him he had burns over about a third of his body, he said.

“He had a cup,” the victim told the Post. “He made a fire and threw everything away.”

Although violent crime is rare in the city's subway system, which serves about 3 million passengers a day, some high-profile attacks this year have left some riders on edge. Among them were the death of a man who was pushed onto the railroad tracks in East Harlem in March and a few shootings.

The suspect in Saturday's attack, Nile Taylor, 49, was arrested shortly after the incident when police found a phone in his home that he allegedly stole from another subway passenger, authorities said. He was charged with assault, arson, illegal possession of a weapon and several other crimes.

It was not immediately clear whether Taylor had an attorney capable of responding to the allegations, or when he would be arraigned.

Authorities also announced Sunday afternoon that Taylor had been charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment and arson in the February attack. Police said he threw a container of flaming liquid at a group of people on a subway platform at the West 28th Street station. No one was hurt.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in March that hundreds of National Guard members would be heading to the metro to beef up security. Municipal police said 800 additional officers would be deployed in the metro to combat fare evasion.