Man Gets Set On Fire in Times Square
- Nizmund Manalad
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
New York City, March 16, 2025 — A 45-year-old man was severely burned early Sunday morning after being set on fire in the heart of New York City's Times Square. The brutal attack occurred around 4 a.m., as the victim, whose identity has not been released, was doused with a flammable liquid and set ablaze in what authorities are investigating as a targeted assault.
Witnesses to the horrifying scene rushed to help, with one passerby using a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Emergency responders arrived shortly after, finding the man severely burned, his shirtless body covered in blistering injuries. He was immediately transported to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition but is expected to face a long recovery.
"We are deeply concerned about the rise in violence in our city, and we are working diligently to identify and apprehend the suspect," said a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department. Authorities have stated that they believe the assailant was familiar with the victim, though no motive has been confirmed. Surveillance footage from the area is being reviewed, as police continue to search for the suspect, who fled the scene shortly after the attack.
The incident marks the latest in a series of violent assaults in public spaces across the city, with some drawing eerie similarities to a similar attack in December 2024, in which a woman was fatally set on fire aboard a subway train.
While the identity of the victim remains undisclosed, investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward to aid in the investigation. Times Square, one of the most iconic and heavily trafficked areas in the world, is known for its constant flow of tourists and residents alike, making this violent act all the more shocking.
As authorities continue to search for the suspect, the incident has left the city on edge, raising questions about safety and security in the public sphere.
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