SHAH ALAM – New York police are hunting for a gunman wearing a gas mask and orange construction vest who is on the run after shooting at least eight people on a packed subway train at Sunset Park, Brooklyn on Tuesday.
According to American daily New York Daily News, the suspect was believed to have tossed a smoke bomb into a northbound N train just before 8.30am and opened fire as the train doors closed.
Out of the eight victims who were shot, one was in a serious condition.
However, sources from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said a total of 13 people were injured, including a pregnant woman.
Witnesses said the gunman was sitting quietly in the train’s second car before he started lighting smoke bombs and pulling a gun.
It was reported that as the doors opened when the train reached the 36th Street stop, wounded commuters collapsed on the platform, terrifying those who were waiting for a train there.
Dozens of people ran out of the train, coughing and gagging from smoke and a few moments later, at least two were seen limping out of the train filled with smoke and one fell to the ground, bleeding.
British daily Daily Mail reported that a FDNY spokesperson said multiple undetonated explosives were discovered at the 36th Street station, although none were active.
"Thirteen people were injured. This remains an active scene,” the spokesman said.
It was also reported that witnesses said they heard endless rounds of gunfire.
"Too many rounds to count,” they described.
Sources said the type of the weapon used by the suspect who was described as a '5ft 5 black male weighing 170 lbs' by witnesses was still unknown.
Disturbing videos from the scene where the shooting incident took place have been circulated on social media.
Those who were wounded were treated by emergency services at the scene.