Shots in the New York subway: the police are still looking for the perpetrators

The incident happened in the middle of the morning rush hour: At least 16 people were injured in an attack on the New York subway, some from gunfire, some from smoke. The perpetrator is on the run.

It’s the middle of rush hour. Working people and students crowd into subway cars. Suddenly this smoke is everywhere. “Everyone just wanted to get out of the train,” says an eyewitness. “There was an injured person in the front of the car. And in the train station there was an announcement: is there a doctor who can help?”

At this point, police receive a 911 call: A gunshot victim at the Sunset Park subway station in South Brooklyn. There is heavy smoke development. When the emergency services arrive, they find several seriously injured people. Passers-by tend to the bloodied people. You will be taken to the hospital.

Everyone still thinks that the attack came from the platform. But it’s now clear that things were different, says New York police chief Keechant Sewell: “Around half past eight this morning, a passer-by on the subway to Manhattan suddenly put on a gas mask. Then he took a canister out of his pocket and opened it . The train filled with smoke.”

16 people injured

Then the man is said to have shot himself. Eight people were injured by bullets and eight others by smoke. Investigators are now on the hunt for the suspect. “He’s a black, medium-sized man. He was wearing a green body armor and a gray hoodie underneath.”

The police had previously revised reports that there were undetonated explosive devices at the crime scene. The area around the Sunset Park station remains under lockdown. Pupils in the surrounding schools in the lively district initially had to stay in their buildings. However, the police did not assume an immediate threat to the population. They investigate in all directions. So far there has been no suspicion of terrorism, but it does not exclude anything, said Sewell.

Biden briefed on incident

US President Joe Biden was also immediately informed of the incident. Senior White House officials have been in contact with New York Mayor Eric Adams and the police leadership.

In recent months, gun crime has become a growing problem in New York. After the subway attack, New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized that the problem of illegal weapons must finally be tackled: “We say: no more mass shootings. It has to stop. Now!” Hochul and Mayor Adams have already declared war on the illegal gun trade in New York.