According to the New York Police Department, around 9:30 p.m. on the 3rd, bear spray was sprayed inside a No. 4 subway train traveling to Union Square Station in Manhattan, affecting eight people, four of whom were taken to the hospital for observation. Police are currently investigating the incident and have provided a description of the suspect, seeking public information.
The suspect, described as a man approximately 30 years old and wearing a camouflage ski mask, sprayed the train as it stopped, then exited and fled the station. His whereabouts are unknown.
Bear spray is a non-lethal chemical agent containing capsaicin, primarily used to repel bears and other large mammals in the wild. Compared to pepper spray, which is used on people, bear spray has a longer-lasting, longer-range effect and a higher concentration of capsaicin, making it suitable for use in open areas. In enclosed subway cars, bear spray poses a greater risk to nearby passengers. Currently, New York City local law does not clearly stipulate whether it is legal to carry bear spray in the city, but if this type of offensive spray is used in situations other than self-defense in the wild, it may violate relevant state laws.
