A camouflage mask-wearing menace shot bear spray into a crowded Manhattan train car late Sunday – injuring eight straphangers – after flipping out when someone confronted him for blocking the door with his bike, cops and sources said.
The masked man’s bike was obstructing one of the doors of a southbound No. 4 train at 14th Street-Union Square when he got into a dispute with another commuter around 9:40 p.m., law enforcement sources said.
The agitated unidentified biker then caused hysteria when he sprayed the bear repellant into the train car as he stepped out onto the platform, cops and sources said.
The mask-wearing menace flipped out when someone confronted him for blocking the train door with his bike, sources said. William C Lopez/New York Post
Four victims were hospitalized in stable condition, and four others were treated on scene, cops said. William C Lopez/New York PostFour victims were taken to Lenox Hill Hospital in stable condition, and four more were treated on scene, police said.
None of the victims were children or senior citizens, cops said.
But photos from the scene show several people, including at least one child, covering their noses and mouths with their hands or their clothing as they fled the station.
The attacker took off after unleashing the bear spray and has not been caught. William C Lopez/New York PostA photo also shows the canister of bear spray that the suspect ditched as he ran off.
A Post photographer described seeing a dense “fog” as he arrived at the scene – and nearly slipped in a puddle of puke near where the suspect discarded the empty canister.
When he returned to his office, the shutterfly said he felt a growing burning sensation on his arms and face despite not being caught in the immediate cloud of mace.
None of those affected by the spray were children or senior citizens, cops said. William C Lopez/New York PostHe tried to wash it off with water, but said it only “intensified the feeling” before he switched to milk which worked instantly. The burning later returned when he bathed at home.
The suspected sprayer – believed to be in his 30s and last seen wearing a green camouflage mask – had not been caught by Monday night.
The incident comes just over a month after Dominic Sabater, 23, allegedly shot bear spray at a massive crowd of Pride revelers inside Washington Square Park, apparently out of fear of being assaulted himself, cops and sources said.
It resulted in 47 people receiving treatment from EMS at the scene, while four others were taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition, cops said at the time.
It wasn’t clear how many injuries were due to the repellant, and how many resulted in the ensuing stampede, but none were considered life-threatening, according to authorities.
Additional reporting by Caitlin McCormack.
