Gay man slashed across face in apparent anti-gay attack on New York City subway train

A man was slashed across the face in an apparent anti-gay attack on a New York City subway train, police have said.

The assault took place on a moving train when the suspect allegedly targeted the victim with homophobic slurs before producing a sharp object and cutting him, according to officers. The victim, whose age was not immediately released, suffered a facial laceration and was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police said the attacker fled the scene after the assault. No arrests had been announced as of the latest update, and detectives were reviewing CCTV footage from the station and train to identify the suspect.

The New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident, which authorities described as a suspected bias attack. Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.

Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community condemned the violence and called for increased vigilance and support for victims of hate crimes on public transport.

The incident comes amid continued concerns over safety on the city’s subway system and follows a number of recent attacks that officials say underscore the need for reporting bias-motivated incidents so they can be fully investigated.