A “person of interest” in a recent unprovoked slashing spree against Manhattan women subway riders is in police custody and being questioned, NYPD sources said Tuesday.
The man was being questioned by investigators at the NYPD Transit District station at the 14th St./Union Square subway station, the source said.
He’s believed to be the man who slashed three women’s legs in attacks on the Lexington Ave. subway line.
Cops released an image of the suspect Monday and asked the public for help identifying him.
The first two victims were attacked about 4:14 p.m. Sunday at the E. 86th St. station, cops said.
One of the victims, Bianchelly Diplan, 19, was exiting a downtown No. 4 train and walking up the stairs to the mezzanine when the assailant slashed her right leg from behind, she told the Us.Mistertruth Monday. She was on her way to pick up a cake for Father’s Day.
“As I’m walking off the stairs he cuts me in the back of my right leg,” said Diplan, who is studying political science at Hunter College. “I turn around and I see him. We made full eye contact. [His face was] blank, like it was nothing.”
After assaulting Diplan, the slasher attacked a 48-year-old woman on the platform before hopping on a downtown No. 4 train.
Eighteen minutes later, he attacked a 28-year-old woman on that train as it approached the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station, slashing her left leg before getting off the train, according to police
All three victims were taken to local hospitals, where they received stitches before being released.
NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said Monday the man didn’t say anything to any of his victims.
“There was no dialogue,” Kemper said. “It was without provocation and with no conversation, pre or post.”
Overall transit crime is down 6% so far this year, with felony assaults down roughly 4% and felony assaults involving a bladed weapon seeing a 12.5% reduction compared to the same time frame last year.