A man wearing a camouflage mask sprayed bear repellent inside a bustling Manhattan subway car late on Sunday, leaving eight people injured. This incident reportedly began when another commuter tried to block the door with a bicycle and there was a confrontation around 9:40 p.m., according to police.
The enraged biker sparked panic as he sprayed the bear repellent while exiting onto the platform, law enforcement officials noted.
Four individuals were taken to Lennox Hill Hospital in stable condition, while another four received treatment at the scene, police confirmed.
Interestingly, despite reports, none of those affected were children or elderly, although images from the incident show people, including at least one child, covering their mouths and noses while fleeing the scene.
Additionally, a canister of bear spray was left behind by the suspect, who is believed to be in his thirties and was last seen wearing a green camouflage mask. He remains at large as of Monday afternoon.
Earlier that night, a similar incident involved a 23-year-old named Dominique Sabutter, who reportedly sprayed bear repellent into a crowd during a pride celebration at Washington Square Park. As a result of that occurrence, EMS treated 47 people at the site, with four transported to Bellevue Hospital, also in stable condition.
Authorities have indicated that the total number of injuries related to the chaos and subsequent stampedes might not be life-threatening, although uncertainties remain.
