A straphanger was brutally assaulted with a metal pipe at the Queensboro Plaza station in Queens, New York. The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday when an unidentified assailant approached the 31-year-old victim and launched an unprovoked attack, repeatedly striking him in the head. The victim was left unconscious as the bearded attacker fled the scene. He was subsequently transported to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he received treatment for multiple head cuts. As of Monday, the victim’s condition was stable, according to the police.
This assault is the latest in a series of violent incidents plaguing the city’s subway system, causing growing concerns among New Yorkers about their safety while commuting. Just days before, a Brazilian tourist fell victim to an unprovoked attack at the Queens Plaza station. The 29-year-old victim was standing at the troubled station when an unknown individual approached from behind and slashed him in the neck. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. An MTA worker at the Queens Plaza station expressed the severity of the situation, highlighting the frequent stabbings and the presence of homeless individuals on the premises.
In another incident on Wednesday, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the left thigh at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. He was promptly taken to NYU Langone Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. On the same day, a 58-year-old female MTA worker was punched in the face by a deranged homeless man on a subway platform in Lower Manhattan. A bystander who attempted to intervene was also assaulted by the assailant.
Last Tuesday, Iain Forrest, a 29-year-old musician, was attacked while entertaining commuters with his cello at a Midtown station. A woman suddenly grabbed his metal water bottle and struck him in the back of the head before walking away without uttering a word. In an Instagram post, Forrest expressed his decision to cease performing in the subways due to the distressing and senseless attack. The assailant responsible for this incident remains at large.
These recent acts of violence have contributed to an overall increase in transit crime in New York City, leaving straphangers fearful for their safety. Subway rider Ricky Mohammed attested to witnessing such incidents regularly, regardless of the time or presence of others. He emphasized that the subway is not a safe place, contrary to what politicians may claim. Another straphanger, Priscilla, revealed her reluctance to travel on the subway at night, even informing her employer of her concerns. She cited the numerous incidents of robbery, head injuries, assaults, and stabbings, questioning the necessity of enduring such risks to reach home safely.
According to NYPD statistics, transit crime has risen significantly in 2024, with an overall increase of 22.6% compared to the same period last year. Felony assaults have risen by over 10%, and grand larceny in the subway system has surged by more than 39%.
