Straphangers flee subway after passenger uses pepper spray in fight at Union Square: Police

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Friday, October 7, 2022
Passenger uses pepper spray in fight on subway
It happened Friday morning on a subway car at the Union Square station.

UNION SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Train service has resumed after pepper spray was used during a fight on a subway car at the Union Square station.

The incident was reported Friday morning around 10 a.m.

Police say the incident caused passengers to try to flee the train and the station.

Police say a 77-year-old male was sitting on a southbound R train when he was pepper sprayed during an unprovoked attack.

The suspect, a male, then fled from the station.

The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he's expected to survive.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

MTA Spokesman Michael Cortez released the following statement:

"Following a short suspension of service on lines serving Union Square due to FDNY and NYPD response at that station, regular service has resumed. The cause of the incident leading to that response appears isolated."

ALSO READ | Man dies after being stabbed in unprovoked subway attack in New York City

Derick Waller reports on the attack, the third targeting NYC subway riders in just eight hours.

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