A violent assault on a New York City subway train has led to widespread outrage and criticism of the state’s governor, Kathy Hochul, amid allegations that a migrant was responsible for the brutal attack.
According to reports, a 43-year-old woman was reportedly set on fire by a 31-year-old man on a subway train in Brooklyn on Saturday. The victim, who has not been named, was taken to the hospital with severe burns and was reported to be in critical condition.
The alleged attacker, identified as 31-year-old Marcel Gerena, was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder.
As the story gained widespread attention, Gov. Hochul was publicly criticized on social media for not doing enough to address the issue of violent crime in the state, particularly in the wake of the recent surge in gang-related violence and shootings in New York City.
“Shame on her for not doing anything to address the problem,” wrote one Twitter user. “This is just the latest incident in a growing list of violent crimes committed by migrants brought into this country without proper vetting.”
Another user wrote, “How can we trust that our leaders are doing their job when they are so blind to the issues at hand? This is a crisis and we need action, not just empty words.”
Gov. Hochul’s office has yet to comment on the incident or the backlash from the public.