A man has burns across his face and arms after an arsonist set him on fire in New York City’s Times Square in the early hours of Sunday.
The 45-year-old victim was pictured shirtless, arms cross and staring in shock as he was put into the back of an ambulance.
It is unclear at this point whether the 3.55am attack was targeted or random.
The suspect – still on the run – is described as a man, last seen wearing blue clothing.
A red fire extinguisher was left on the scene on W. 41st and Seventh Ave, metres away from where NYC Half Marathon participants ran past hours later.
Before being put in an ambulance, the victim was seen being escorted by firefighters while he was draped in a blue blanket.
He is understood to be in stable condition at New York Presbyterian Cornell hospital.
Steve Ortiz, a nearby resident, told Eyewitness News: ‘I don’t understand, just very inhumane. Especially in the middle of Times Square, it’s crazy, it doesn’t make any sense.’
The attack comes less than three months after Debrina Kawam, a 61-year-old homeless woman from New Jersey, burnt to death on a New York subway train on December 22.
She was so badly burnt, it took nine days to identify her using DNA, fingerprint and dental records.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is accused of using a lighter to set Kawam on fire. Kawam was reportedly asleep at the time.
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