Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the deployment of hundreds of National Guard members to New York City’s subways in response to a surge in violent assaults. The New York Police Department has reported an alarming increase in such incidents within the transit system.
In an effort to enhance passenger safety, a combined force of one thousand National Guardsmen and state police will be stationed throughout the subway network. These security personnel will focus on monitoring the city’s busiest stations and will conduct bag checks to search for weapons.
Addressing the recent violence, Governor Hochul stated, “These brazen, heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated. So today, in the wake of these latest attacks, I’m unveiling a five-point plan to rid our subways of people who commit crimes and protect all New Yorkers.”
According to local reports, early Thursday, March 7, hours after the governor announced her plan to combat subway crime, a man was stabbed in the hand at a Bronx station. The incident occurred at the Pelham Parkway station, where the victim was trying to prevent two men from harassing a woman. The assailants escaped in a white vehicle.
In a separate incident, police are searching for a suspect who assaulted a 4 train conductor with a glass bottle at the 170th Street station, resulting in minor injuries for the conductor.
“Anyone looking to do harm or spread fear on our subways. You will be caught, plain and simple. There will be consequences. This has to end. New Yorkers deserve no less. And to those who are feeling anxious whenever they walk through those turnstiles. We will stop at nothing to keep you safe,” Hochul said Wednesday, March 6.
