A police officer checks Manhattan subways after a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, US, April 12, 2022. (Reuters)Police mounted an intense manhunt Tuesday for a gunman who set off two smoke bombs and opened fire in a New York subway car, injuring 23 people in a morning rush-hour attack that prompted new calls to fight a surge of violence in the city’s transit system. Police said the gunman was believed to have acted alone and immediately fled the crime scene.
A gunman in a gas mask and construction vest set off a smoke grenade and fired a barrage of at least 33 bullets in a rush-hour subway train. Police were scouring the city for the shooter and trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.
Ten people were hit directly by gunfire, including five hospitalised in critical but stable condition, authorities said. Police said 13 more people suffered from smoke inhalation or were otherwise injured in the chaos as panicked riders fled the smoke-filled subway car. All of the victims were expected to survive their injuries, police said.
(With inputs from agencies)
An everyday morning commute turned into a scene of horror Tuesday with witnesses describing a smoke-filled underground car, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station, and bloodied people lying on the platform as others tended to them.
A riders’ videos show a person in a hooded sweatshirt raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound.
Sitting in the back of the train’s second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Chief of Detectives James Essig told The Associated Press. He said the police found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority which is responsible for transportation in the New York City area announced last year that it had installed security cameras in all 472 subway stations citywide. But cameras weren't working at three stations where police went to look for evidence Tuesday, Chief of Detectives James Essig said.
MTA system chief Janno Lieber told TV interviewers he didn't know why the cameras malfunctioned, said an AP report.
As police searched for the shooter, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers to be vigilant. "This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous," Hochul said.
At least 23 were injured, five critically, in an attack at the 36th Street subway stop in Sunset Park after a man released two smoke grenades and started shooting. The following graphic card from the New York Times explains how the attack unfolded.
The man whom the police have identified as a person of interest in the subway attack in Brooklyn appears to have posted dozens of videos on social media in recent years — lengthy rants in which he expressed a range of harshly bigoted views and, more recently, criticised the policies of New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams.
The police released a screenshot of James taken from a YouTube video posted by a channel belonging to the username prophetoftruth88.
The videos featured a man — who appeared to be the same man in a picture released by the police — delivering extended tirades, many of them overtly concerned with race and violence, often tying those subjects in with current events, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the policies of Adams. Two law enforcement officials said that James was the person featured in the channel’s videos.
Ride-sharing app Uber announced that it has capped fares across New York City following the shooting in the Brooklyn subway. The app was criticised on social media for implementing surge pricing in the aftermath of the shooting. Uber said it will work on refunding those who have been affected by the hike in fares.
On videos captured inside a smoke-choked subway car, commuters can be seen hunching into their collars, pulling sleeves and hoods across their faces, trying to breathe. Before the doors open, there are few panicked screams — just the familiar muffled shriek of a rush hour train on its tracks, punctuated by moans of pain.
When the familiar “ding” of the doors opening sounds at the next stop, riders burst off, gasping amid curls of smoke.
“There’s been a shooting!” a woman says as she flees. Behind her a man limps out from the car.
At an early evening news briefing, police named a "person of interest" in the investigation as Frank James, who investigators believed had rented the U-Haul vehicle.
Police said they recovered the key to the van at the crime scene and it had been rented in Philadelphia. James had addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, officials said.
The subway assailant was described by police from eyewitness accounts as a man of heavy build, wearing an orange vest, a gray sweatshirt, a green helmet and surgical mask.
Eric Adams ran for mayor of New York City with campaign ads featuring old photographs of him in his police uniform and a vow to secure a pandemic-scarred metropolis against the gun violence that surged alongside Covid-19.
On his 102nd day in office, Adams, a former police captain, faced the latest challenge in his efforts to allay New Yorkers' fears: A gunman opened fire on a subway car Tuesday morning, shooting 10 people.
Violent crime has risen across the United States over the pandemic, and New York City has been no exception. While the city remains one of the safest in the country and far less dangerous than it was in the 1990s, when Adams was rising through the New York City Police Department's ranks, the new mayor has revived some of the tough-on-crime policing tactics associated with that era under the Republican mayor Rudy Giuliani. (Reuters)
A gunman in a gas mask and construction vest set off a smoke grenade and fired a barrage of at least 33 bullets in a rush-hour subway train, shooting at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were scouring the city for the shooter and trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.
A scene of horror unfolded as frightened commuters ran from the train as others limped out of it. At least one rider collapsed on the platform.
"My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming," eyewitness Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS. Smoke poured out of the train car as the door opened, he added.
Five people were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least 29 in all were treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation and other conditions, according to hospitals.
The gunfire erupted on a train that pulled into a station in the Sunset Park neighbourhood, about a 15-minute ride from Manhattan and predominantly home to Hispanic and Asian communities.
Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was "not ruling out anything." The shooter's motive was unknown.
Authorities found a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, both detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and key to a U-Haul van, Chief of Detectives James Essig said.
He said the key led investigators to the van renter, who they said has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin. Authorities were looking for him, but Essig stressed that it wasn't yet clear whether the man was linked to the shooting. (AP)
New York City police named Frank R James, 62, as a 'person of interest' in the subway shooting. James has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin. NYC Police have also announced a $50,000 reward for any information.
According to reports, Fire personnel responding to reports of smoke at the 36th Street station in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighbourhood found at least 13 people were hurt during the incident. Check out entire gallery
Wounded people lie at the 36th Street subway station, in New York City, New York, US. At least five people were shot in New York City during a morning rush hour attack on Tuesday, law enforcement sources said. (Via Reuters)
The Consulate General of India in New York is monitoring the horrific shooting incident at a subway station in Brooklyn and is in touch with the local authorities.
Consul General Randhir Jaiswal told PTI that the Consulate is monitoring the situation and “we are in touch with authorities.” Later there was also a tweet by the Consulate in which it said: "Deeply disturbed by horrific shooting in Brooklyn today. We are in touch with local authorities. Our prayers and thoughts with those injured." Law enforcement authorities are investigating a horrifying incident of shooting at a New York City subway station during early morning rush hour Tuesday in which “multiple people” were shot and smoke was seen coming from the train station.
The New York Police Department tweeted that “in regard to the multiple people shot at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, there are NO active explosive devices at this time.” The police are asking witnesses to call law enforcement with any information and are advising people to stay clear of the area. (PTI)
Preliminary information indicates that the suspect behind the shooting at a subway station in Brooklyn on Tuesday was a man wearing a construction vest and a gas mask, the Associated Press reported. At least five people were shot and injured at the subway station during an attack that left wounded commuters bleeding on a train platform and police searching for the shooter.
At least 11 people were being treated at two local hospitals. Read more
Multiple photos and videos which show the aftermath of of the incident have emerged. At least 13 persons were injured, including five from gunshots, at a subway station in Brooklyn, New York City on Tuesday morning.
A fire department spokesman, however, did not provide further details on the victims’ injuries and conditions. Check out the picitures and videos
White House press secretary Jennifer Rene Psaki Tuesday said that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest developments regarding the New York City subway shooting.
“White House senior staff are in touch with Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell to offer any assistance as needed,” she said in a tweet.
The New York Police Department has warned people to stay away from the area, which is known for its thriving Chinatown, views of the Statue of Liberty and Industry City, a sprawling warehouse district that has become home to many creative businesses. (Reuters)
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) officials, who are investigating the incident, said that during preliminary searches, no active explosive devices were found at the scene of Brooklyn subway incident.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland has received preliminary briefing and is monitoring the situation, said a spokesperson. (Reuters)