Man charged for setting New York City subway passenger on fire

A man has been charged with assault, among other charges, after he set a container of flammable liquid on fire and threw it at a subway passenger in New York City, authorities said Sunday.

Nile Taylor, 49, was arrested on Saturday after he threw a flammable substance at a 23-year-old man at a subway station in lower Manhattan, the New York Police Department told USA TODAY. He faces multiple charges, including attempted assault, assault, arson, reckless endangerment, petty larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property in connection with the two incidents, according to police.

Police said Taylor was also responsible for a similar attack in early February.

PIX 11 News reported last month that police were searching for a man who allegedly tossed a cup of flammable liquid on fire at people standing on a subway platform in Manhattan on Feb. 5. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Although New York City has seen a decline in overall crime through the first quarter of 2024, according to NYPD data, officials have said multiple violent incidents on the city's subway system have put residents on edge. They include several shootings in recent months, a train conductor who was slashed in the neck in late February, and a man who was fatally pushed onto tracks in March.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in March that hundreds of National Guard members would be sent to busy train stations for additional security. Last month, NYPD said another 800 officers were deployed to the subway to crack down on fare evasion.

Police: Victim sustained burns after his shirt was set on fire

The 23-year-old subway passenger sustained burns to his upper torso after Taylor threw the flammable substance on him as a subway train was pulling into the station, police said. The flaming liquid also caused the victim's shirt to catch fire.

The victim was then transported to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment, according to police. He told the New York Post that he blocked his fiancee and cousin from the burning liquid and that he slapped himself with his hands to put out the flames.

Doctors told him he had burns on about 30% of his body, he said. "He had a cup ... something inside, like oil, he made fire and he threw it all," the victim told the Post.

Police sources told PIX 11 News that Taylor was arrested a short time after the incident when police tracked a phone he allegedly stole.