Penn Station fire attack: two suspects sought by NYPD

Penn Station fire attack investigators are searching for two men accused of setting a sleeping 37-year-old man on fire near Penn Station in Manhattan, as reported by AP.

According to the New York City Police Department, three men approached the victim at about 8:40 p.m. on March 2 while he was asleep and ignited his clothing. Authorities said the group then fled into the Amtrak station.

Penn Station fire attack investigation

Emergency responders extinguished the flames and took the man to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The NYPD investigation is continuing as police look for two suspects linked to the incident near Penn Station.

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Meanwhile, Amtrak said its police are assisting the NYPD with the investigation, but the company did not provide additional details. Several media reports said a third suspect has been arrested.

Public transportation attack in New York City

The incident is the latest in a series of cases across the country in which people have been set on fire on public transportation. Also, the case has drawn added attention because it happened near Penn Station and involved suspects running into the Amtrak station after the attack.

Separately, in December, a New York City high school senior was charged with federal arson after authorities said he started a fire that badly burned a sleeping subway passenger, according to AP.

Related cases involving people set on fire

For example, in 2024, a sleeping woman died on a stopped New York subway train after a man set her on fire and used a shirt to fan the flames, as reported by Reuters.

Still, those cases, together with the Penn Station fire attack, have intensified concern around violent incidents involving people attacked while asleep in transit settings.

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