A scene of rare violence occurred in Times Square on the night of Saturday, March 15th, to Sunday, March 16th. A 45-year-old man suffered serious burns after being doused with a flammable liquid. The assailant, who set the victim on fire before fleeing, is being actively sought by the New York police.

Horror scene in New York City (United States). On Sunday, March 16, 2025, a 45-year-old man was seriously burned in an attack in Times Square, one of the city's busiest spots. According to The New York Post, it was around 4 a.m. when a man doused him with flammable liquid before setting him on fire and fleeing. An investigation has been opened.

Images relayed by our colleagues show the forty-year-old in a state of shock, bare-chested and wrapped in a blue blanket, clearly suffering from significant burns to his face and arms. Emergency personnel quickly transported him to Weill Cornell Presbyterian Hospital in New York, where he was treated. His condition is considered stable, AP News reports.

An altercation

According to police sources, the victim and her attacker were talking near a food stall shortly before the incident. After an altercation, the suspect allegedly grabbed a bottle containing a flammable liquid and used it to set the victim on fire. The victim, who was on fire, ran approximately 30 meters before a man intervened to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher.

The suspect, who is still at large, is being actively sought by police. According to People, authorities have reportedly obtained CCTV footage from nearby businesses. Analyzing this footage may help them identify the perpetrator.

A similar case in December

This incident comes three months after a similar attack on the New York City subway, in which a 57-year-old woman was fatally burned. These tragedies have reignited the debate over public safety in New York City, with some officials calling for increased police presence while others point to recent judicial reforms. Despite these isolated incidents, statistics indicate a general downward trend in crime in the city.

According to The Guardian, residents of the "Big Apple" are nevertheless expressing concern about security in certain areas, particularly in the early hours of the morning when the police presence is sometimes considered insufficient. The investigation continues in an attempt to find the perpetrator of Sunday's attack. The authorities are urging anyone who may have information to contact them as soon as possible.