A 70-year-old woman is recovering after being assaulted in an unprovoked attack in a Midtown East subway passageway, the NYPD said.
The woman was walking in an underground passageway to the No. 6 train near Lexington Avenue and East 53rd Street when an unknown man pushed her into a wall, causing her to hit her head and fall to the ground, according to police.
The woman was taken by paramedics to NYU Langone Medical Center for treatment of injuries to her head and neck, police said.
Detectives said they are looking to speak with an individual in connection with the case who left the scene.
A woman suffered a head injury after being violently shoved into a wall inside a Midtown Manhattan subway passageway in what police are calling an unprovoked attack.
The force of the impact caused her to strike her head and collapse to the ground. Witnesses say the attacker said nothing before or after the shove, and quickly fled the scene on foot.
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Emergency responders arrived within minutes and transported the woman to Bellevue Hospital, where she was treated for head trauma. Police said she is expected to recover, but described her injuries as “serious but not life-threatening.”
“This was a completely unprovoked assault,” said NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper during a brief news conference Monday afternoon. “There was no interaction between the suspect and the victim beforehand. She was simply walking through the passageway like anyone else, and was targeted at random.”
Surveillance footage from inside the station captured clear images of the suspect, described as a man in his 30s or 40s wearing dark clothing and a gray hoodie. Police have released stills to the public in an effort to identify and locate him.
The attack is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents involving random violence in the subway system, renewing public concern about safety on public transit. Transit advocates and city leaders have called for increased patrols and mental health resources, especially in transit hubs.
“This is terrifying,” said Rachel Kim, a commuter who frequently uses the station. “It could’ve been anyone. We’re just trying to get to work safely.”
Mayor Eric Adams has yet to comment on the incident, but city officials say additional NYPD presence will be temporarily assigned to the area.
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
