Authorities in New York City have charged a man with assault and other offenses after he allegedly ignited a container of flammable liquid and hurled it at a subway passenger, as reported on Sunday.
Nile Taylor, 49, was taken into custody on Saturday following an incident at a subway station in lower Manhattan where he allegedly threw a flammable substance at a 23-year-old man. The New York Police Department revealed that Taylor is facing multiple charges, including attempted assault, assault, arson, reckless endangerment, petty larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property, relating to two separate incidents.
According to police, Taylor is also suspected of being involved in a similar attack earlier in February.
Last month, PIX 11 News reported that authorities were searching for an individual who purportedly tossed a cup of flammable liquid at people standing on a Manhattan subway platform on February 5. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that incident.
Despite an overall decrease in crime in New York City during the first quarter of 2024, according to NYPD data, officials have expressed concern about several violent incidents occurring within the city’s subway system. These include multiple shootings, a train conductor being slashed in the neck, and a fatal incident where a man was pushed onto the tracks.
To address these concerns, Governor Kathy Hochul announced in March that hundreds of National Guard members would be deployed to busy train stations for additional security. Additionally, last month, NYPD deployed an extra 800 officers to crack down on fare evasion within the subway system.
In the recent incident, the 23-year-old victim sustained burns to his upper torso after Taylor allegedly threw the flammable substance at him while a subway train was entering the station. The victim’s shirt also caught fire due to the flaming liquid. He was subsequently transported to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment, where doctors determined that he had burns covering approximately 30% of his body. The victim recounted the terrifying experience, stating that Taylor had a cup containing oil or a similar substance which he ignited before throwing it at them.
Taylor was apprehended shortly after the incident, reportedly tracked down by police through a phone he had allegedly stolen.
