45-Year-Old Pushed onto Tracks in Manhattan (right), The hooded 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins (Left) | Screengrab from X video
A terrifying incident occurred at Manhattan’s 18th Street subway station on Tuesday when a 23-year-old man pushed a 45-year-old commuter onto the tracks as a train was approaching. Miraculously, the victim survived the horrific incident, sustaining only a head injury, and was quickly rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment. The video of the incident is now widely circulated online.
According to a report in The New York times, the police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins, shoved the man onto the tracks around 1:30 PM. Witnesses reported that Hawkins, wearing a dark hoodie, lingered near the platform edge before pushing the unsuspecting victim, who was engrossed in his phone. As the train approached, the victim disappeared beneath it but miraculously survived.
The New York Times, also reported that emergency responders from the Fire Department arrived promptly at the scene, stabilizing the injured man and transporting him to the hospital. The swift action of emergency services helped prevent further tragedy.
According tweet by @CollinRugg The NYPD launched an investigation, utilising surveillance footage and witness accounts to track down Hawkins. He was nabbed near Columbus Circle hours after the attack. Hawkins has been charged with attempted murder, and authorities are reviewing additional charges related to the incident.
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the 23-year-old Hawkins has a documented history of run-ins with the law. In 2019, he was charged with assault for injuring a police officer. He is also involved in an open case from October, which includes charges of assault, harassment, and illegal possession of weapons.
Police authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack and are reviewing all available evidence.
This incident adds to a troubling series of attacks on the transit system, including two slashing incidents on Sunday and a deadly arson attack on December 22. According to NYPD data, assaults in the transit network have risen by 40% compared to the previous years.
