A deranged vagrant who allegedly set a straphanger on fire in a shocking attack at a Manhattan subway station on Saturday has been linked to a similar incident that occurred earlier this year. Nile Taylor, 49, who was arrested shortly after the fiery assault on 23-year-old Petrit Alijaj, is now facing additional charges for a Feb. 5 attack at another Manhattan subway station.
In the February incident, Taylor was caught on surveillance footage hurling two cans of flammable liquid at a group of commuters at the West 28th Street station. Although no one was injured in that attack, the suspect managed to evade capture until his recent arrest.
On Saturday, Alijaj and his fiancee were preparing to exit a No. 1 train at the Varick Street station when Taylor allegedly threw flaming liquid at him. Alijaj heroically shielded his fiancee from the flames, suffering burns on 30% of his body in the process.
Quick-thinking officers tracked down Taylor using a cell phone he had stolen from the subway platform after the attack. The suspect, who has a history of criminal offenses, is now facing multiple charges, including assault, arson, reckless endangerment, and weapons possession.
As New York City grapples with a surge in subway crime, this latest incident has reignited calls for increased security measures and tougher penalties for repeat offenders who terrorize innocent commuters.