Slashing Attacks on New York City Subways Increase
Another victim of slashing on the New York City subway was treated for injuries today and is in stable condition, while police are investigating the incident.
According to CBS New York, a 27-year-old man was taken to the hospital after being slashed inside the Central Park North station at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue, early Sunday morning.
At around 3:15 a.m., on the Southbound No. 2 train platform, an argument ensued between the victim and a woman. The police reported that, when the woman asked for help, is when another man slashed the victim and fled. He was then taken to Mount Sinai St. Luke’s hospital in stable condition according to Metro US.
This is now the sixth such incident of slashing to occur on New York City subways this past week.
According to CBS New York, last Monday morning, a 71-year-old woman was attacked by a man on the D train heading to the Broadway-Lafayette Station. And last Tuesday night, a 29-year-old woman had her hand sliced by with a cloth-covered machete on the No. 3 train in Brooklyn.
Last Wednesday night, the police reported that another man was slashed on a East Harlem subway platform, underneath Lexington Avenue and 116th Street. However, police also noted that he’s decided not to cooperate with the investigation.
The New York Post reported that, 37-year-old Ras Alula Nagarit was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and menacing in the stabbing of Natalie Lewis’ hand after she bumped into him around 9:30 p.m. near the Atlantic Avenue/Barclays Center station. Supposedly he yelled “I will chop you up.”
On Wednesday, 21-year-old David Knowles was arrested the random attack slashing of Carmen Rivera on Monday, according to CBS New York. This left Rivera with a four inch gash on her left cheek. A relative of the suspect’s girlfriend recognized Knowles jumping over a turnstile in the surveillance video and called the police.
“He just pretended that he fell, and he fell on top of me, and that’s when he slashed my face,” said Rivera, whose slashed face required 20 to 30 stitches.
Rivera continued, “I hope God forgives him, and he should repent because he’s destroying his life.”
On Friday afternoon around 3:05 p.m., a 70-year-old man was entering the Bowery Street station in Manhattan, when he was pushed by a suspect, causing the victim to fall to the ground, according the Metro US.
The police noted that, the victim then had an undetermined amount of money and a Metro Card stolen before the suspect escaped eastbound on Bowery Street. The victim was treated at the hospital for swelling to his forehead and a cut.
These incidents have left some New Yorkers on edge, but some have also tried to not let it affect their lives.
“Anybody could do this to you, and you just have no idea until it’s too late,” said Regina Graham, an Upper West Side resident.
“I’m a little nervous, but it’s the only way to get around,” a woman told CBS New York. “So I’m not going to stop taking it unless I want to pay like $30 for an Uber every week.”
“There’s always people doing crazy things, and it seems lately there’s more and more,” said Suzanna Zweighaf, of Forest Hills, Queens. “But more police presence would be good.”
However, New York’s police Commissioner Bill Bratton, swears by the subway and claims that the recent slashings are mostly coincidental.
“My wife rides it,” said Bratton, who has also noted that the streets are safe. “It is a very safe system.”
Some New Yorkers are said to be relying on cabs, buses, and car services, rather than the subways because of the recent incidents.
“Relatively, they are (safe), but this is something we have to address,” said Annette Benda-Fox, of the Upper West Side. “It’s real. It’s happening right now.”
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
