NYPD launches investigation after multiple people slashed on subway

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is questioning two men after multiple people were slashed on the subway.

There were four people attacked within 12 minutes early Friday morning, and the suspects are two Black men in their early twenties, ABC 7 reported.

The attack started before 4:30 a.m. when a 44-year-old man was slashed in the face. Another 40-year-old man was slashed in the face minutes later while a third person was punched.

A few minutes later, another 44-year-old man was robbed and slashed in the back of the head. All victims went to the hospital and are in stable condition.

A 48-year-old homeless man was attacked around 5 a.m. and stabbed in the eye, cheek and neck along with two slashes on his back. It is not clear yet if this incident was related to the others, and the man is in the hospital in stable condition.

The police are reportedly questioning the men to link them to each attack. No arrests have been made. 

“These were five very serious armed robbery and slashing incidents at stations on the same line,” NYC Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg said. “All seemingly could have been prevented by a uniformed presence on each of these platforms. The responsibility for these vicious attacks does not fall on an already strapped police department. It falls on City Hall and the individuals who are taking advantage of the mayor’s negligence on the issue. If he needed a wake-up call, this is it. Enough is enough. The mayor is risking New York’s recovery every time he lets these incidents go by without meaningful action.”

More information about the incident is set to be given at 3 p.m.

“New York City is surging over 500 officers on top of a 2,500-strong transit force to fight subway crime,” Bill Neidhardt, a spokesperson for Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), said in response to Feinberg. “The city has pulled cops off desk duty and put them on platforms and trains. We’re going to keep putting massive resources into this fight to keep our subways safe. Meanwhile, the MTA [Metro Transit Authority] sends out statements that point fingers and talk about mayoral politics. Get with the program, help us fight back this crime.”