At least 16 people have been injured in a shooting at a subway station in New York's Brooklyn on Tuesday.
New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, in a press conference, said that the attack is not being investigated as an "act of terrorism" and there are no life-threatening injuries.
"The accused filled the train with smoke and opened fire on the passengers. He was reportedly a Black male, 5'5" tall, with a heavy build. Wearing a green construction-type vest and a grey hooded sweatshirt," said Sewell.
The commissioner confirmed that the shooting happened inside the subway car.
Sewell said that at 8:24 am (local time), as the Manhattan-bound N train waited to enter the 36th Street subway, a man wearing a gas mask took a canister out of his bag and opened it.
"The train at that time began to fill with smoke. He then opened fire, striking multiple people on the subway and in the platform," she said.
The commissioner confirmed that the shooting happened inside the subway car.
"The suspect was in the train car. The shooting began in the train car," Sewell said.
Sewell said there was no known motive at this time.
"We do not know the motive at this time, but we're not ruling anything out," she said.
Sixteen people were treated for injuries, including 10 for gunshot wounds, said Laura Kavanagh, the acting Fire Department New York commissioner.
Media reports said the suspect was also carrying construction tools.
The White House said that United States President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation in New York.
“President Biden has been briefed on the latest developments regarding the New York City subway shooting,” the White House said as Biden left the city for his day long trip to Des Moines in Iowa.
“White House senior staff are in touch with Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell to offer any assistance as needed," said the White House.
The New York Police Department tweeted that “in regard to the multiple people shot at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, there are NO active explosive devices at this time.”
The police are asking witnesses to call law enforcement with any information and are advising people to stay clear of the area.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers that a suspected gunman who shot multiple people on the subway on Tuesday morning is still at large.
"Tranquility and normalness was disrupted, brutally disrupted, by an individual so cold-hearted and depraved of heart that they had no caring about the individuals that they assaulted as they simply went about their daily lives. This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous," Hochul said.
The governor urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant.
"This is an active shooter situation right now in the city of New York," she said.
Mayor Eric Adams continues to be briefed on the situation and his office said that “while we gather more information, we ask New Yorkers to stay away from this area for their safety and so that first responders can help those in need and investigate.”
Police officers were called to the 36th Street subway station around 8:30 am, according to a Police Department spokeswoman.
The Consulate General of India in New York is monitoring the horrific shooting incident at a subway station in Brooklyn and is in touch with the local authorities.
Consul General Randhir Jaiswal told PTI that the Consulate is monitoring the situation and “we are in touch with authorities.”
Later there was also a tweet by the Consulate in which it said: "Deeply disturbed by horrific shooting in Brooklyn today. We are in touch with local authorities. Our prayers and thoughts with those injured."
Video footage of the incident posted on social media showed commuters coming out the train panicked and running as the station got engulfed in smoke.
The New York Daily News report added that witnesses reported seeing wounded people, all adults, coming out of both the 36th St. and the 25th St. stations.
“I was heading into 36th Street Station in Brooklyn when a young guy who was bleeding from the legs said people were injured and bleeding,” witness Conrad Aderer said in the report.
With inputs from PTI and ANI
