What we know about Penn station man in critical condition after catching fire

A series of violent incidents in New York City's rail and subway stations have raised public concern about the safety of commuters. In the latest disturbing case, a 67-year-old man was seriously injured after allegedly being set on fire inside Penn Station on December 27, 2024. While the victim claims he was attacked in his sleep, the New York Post has reported that police have found no evidence of a second party's involvement, contradicting the initial investigation which suggested the fire was not self-inflicted.

This incident adds to the growing anxiety following several high-profile attacks in the city's transit hubs. A shocking video of a woman set on fire in a subway car in Brooklyn has been widely circulated online, while another recent attack at Grand Central Station has further fueled discussions about the risks faced by public transport users.

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Details on what happened at Penn Station.

According to multiple reports, on December 27, 2024, the MTA(Metropolitan Transportation Authority) police were alerted around 8:10 pm about a man on fire, the police soon found the man, reportedly a homeless man though his identity was not revealed to the public yet, with severe burn injuries near New Jersey Transit Tracks 11 and 12 inside Manhattan's Penn Station.

The man, who sustained serious injuries to his legs and body, was taken to the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The status of his recovery is not known though some outlets report that the victim is still in critical condition, but according to reports, his injuries were not life-threatening when he was transported to the hospital.

According to reports, the victim informed the police that he was set on fire while sleeping. At the time it was reported that the preliminary investigation suggested that the man did not set fire to himself. Furthermore, there were no surveillance cameras near the crime scene, and other surveillance cameras did not show anyone exiting the scene.

The incident is under investigation by the NYPD.

The rising number of casualties in railroad stations causes concern among commuters

The Penn Station incident happened days after the news of a woman being set on fire in an F- train in Brooklyn on Dec. 23. According to multiple reports, the unidentified woman was sleeping in a train car when the accused, Sebastian Zapeta, allegedly set her on fire. Zapeta was charged with murder and arson.

Furthermore, on Christmas Eve, a man attacked two people in the Grand Central Station. According to reports, the attacks started when the suspect, identified as Jason Sargeant, allegedly pulled the emergency break in a train and stepped off the train. He immediately slashed a man's wrist and then later stabbed a 26-year-old Imani-Ciara Pizarro on her neck.

According to multiple news outlets, these consecutive incidents have created slight concerns among citizens regarding safety in public transport.