NEW YORK — A man is accused of lighting a cup of flammable liquid and tossing it on a fellow subway rider in New York City on Saturday, authorities said.

>> Read more trending news

Nile Taylor, 49, was arrested and charged with assault, arson and reckless engagement, WABC-TV reported. He is also charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of a weapon.

According to the New York City Police Department, Taylor threw the substance at a 23-year-old man at 2:37 p.m. EDT, WPIX-TV reported. The alleged attack occurred at the Houston Street No. 1 subway station in Manhattan, according to the television station.

The victim was with his fiancée and cousins on the train, WABC reported. Video taken at the station showed the man emerging from the subway station with his shirt off and in pain, according to the television station.

WABC identified the victim as Petrit Alijaj, who spoke with the television station on the telephone from an area hospital after the alleged incident.

“I was on the train and a maniac like put fire on my body, and he left the train,” Alijaj told WABC. “He had a cup with the fire and the train stopped at Houston Street. We thought when he go for the door, we thought he’s leaving, he’s getting off. He waited for the door to open and then he put the fire on me.”

Police said the victim, who suffered a burn to his upper torso, was in stable condition, CNN reported.

Authorities said they believe that Taylor is a suspect in a similar attack on Feb. 5 at the West 28th Street subway station, according to WPIX.

Police said that Taylor allegedly threw a container of flammable liquid at subway patrons on the southbound No. 1 train platform, according to the television station.

An investigation is ongoing, WNBC-TV reported.

© 2024 Cox Media Group