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Brooklyn man, 68, slashed across the face by knife-wielding subway passenger for not wearing mask amid Covid-19

The New York Police Department has released surveillance footage of the suspect who has not been caught yet

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: A knife attack on an elderly man has left him in “serious condition”. The victim whose name has not been released was reportedly riding a subway in Brooklyn without a mask when the suspect attacked him.

According to police, the incident happened on Friday, August 28, at around 4:35 pm when the 68-year-old man boarded a No. 2 train and a fellow passenger started an argument with him for not wearing a mask while riding a public transport amid the Covid-19 crisis. As the argument escalated, the accused, who was wearing a blue surgical mask around his chin, took out a knife and slashed the victim across the left side of his face. The attack left the elderly man with a deep cut.

After attacking the man, the suspect escaped the scene as the train’s doors opened, The Sun reported. A hunt for the accused has been initiated as the police released a surveillance video of him. In the clip, he was seen wearing a red t-shirt, text BKLYN 45 written over it, and a gold chain around his neck.

In another incident, a man was caught on camera allegedly trying to rape a woman on a subway platform in New York. The incident reportedly happened on Saturday, August 29, when Jose Reyes allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and climbed on top of her as she waited for a train at 11 am. However, the 31-year-old man was chased away by other bystanders.

Police caught Reyes on Sunday, August 30, when a facial recognition program matched his face to a mugshot of him. He was earlier arrested for a different crime this year.

The 25-year-old victim whose identity has not been revealed said that she initially saw Reyes when they were on the same train and she noticed him smoking something. The woman told police that she deboarded the train to get away from him, but the accused followed her onto the platform at Lexington Avenue and East 63rd Street subway station in the Upper East Side.

Reyes allegedly followed the victim before pushing and punching her. He also climbed on top her in an attempt to rape her, officials said. New York Police Department Chief Rodney Harrison described the incident "heinous". The suspect was charged with attempted rape and assault. Harrison also said that Reyes was seen smoking hookah before allegedly attacking the woman.

According to police, the alleged incident left the woman with minor injuries and she refused medical treatment. “Thank you to all involved in the investigation/apprehension. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim of this heinous unprovoked attack,” police commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted.

However, some people also showed their anger on the person who recorded the alleged attack. One user tweeted: “Again another video of a man assaulting a woman while people stand there filming. If you need to film it, set the camera up, so you can film yourself kicking this dudes ass.” Another one added: “This pissed me off on so many levels. The one recording should also kick his ass and save her. What is WRONG WITH PEOPLE!!!! the man recording needs to be held accountable too. And the video needs to be REMOVED OFF HIS OWN PHONE!!!