77-Year-Old Pepper-Sprayed On Train Near Union Square, Delays: NYPD

UNION SQUARE, NY — A 77-year-old man was pepper-sprayed Friday morning while riding a train near Union Square, which has now caused major delays on multiple lines, police and the MTA said.

The man was riding an N or R train about 10:11 a.m. when he was attacked with pepper spray for no apparent reason, police told Patch.

The attacker, who was described as five feet, seven inches tall and in his 20s or 30s, fled the train, and the man was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, police said.

Police told Patch the 77-year-old was the only person hit by the spray, but other reports indicate that multiple people were affected.

“Someone sprayed something in the air & people started vomiting left and right,” a source told THE CITY reporter Jose Martinez.

The subsequent NYPD investigation caused a major disruption throughout the subway system Friday morning.

N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6, and L train service were all suspended in Lower Manhattan after the attack until around 11:20 a.m. the MTA said.

Service has since resumed, but the MTA said to expect major delays.

NYPD and FDNY finished their investigation at 14 St-Union Sq after determining it was safe to resume service.

‌B‌‌/N‌‌/Q‌‌/R‌‌/W‌‌/4‌‌/5‌‌/6‌‌/L‌ trains have resumed making regular stops.

Expect delays on those lines and D/F/M trains as we get trains back on schedule. https://t.co/PjEU4VEgpN
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) October 7, 2022