On Saturday, May 25th, a man was severely burned in a horrifying attack on a Manhattan subway. Petrit Alijaj, 23, shielded his fiancée from a man who threw flaming liquid at them on the one train near Houston Street. The courageous act left Alijaj with burns on 30 percent of his body.
The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. as the couple, along with Alijaj’s cousin, were heading to visit the Statue of Liberty. As the train pulled into the Houston Street station, Nile Taylor, 49, boarded the train with a cup of flammable liquid. Without warning, Taylor ignited the liquid and threw it at Alijaj.
Alijaj, originally from Albania, described how he instinctively turned his body to protect his fiancée and cousin, resulting in severe burns to his chest, neck, arms, ears, and hand. “I protect my fiancée with my body,” he said from his hospital bed at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Hospital. Despite the pain, Alijaj managed to escape the train, tearing off his burning shirt and dousing the flames with his hands.
The quick response from emergency services was crucial. Alijaj received immediate care from FDNY firefighters, who used cool water to treat his burns before he was transported to the hospital. Despite the severity of his injuries, Alijaj remained optimistic, downplaying the extent of his burns and expressing relief that his fiancée was unharmed.
Taylor fled the scene but was apprehended by police a few blocks away at Canal Street and Renwick Street. Authorities are investigating whether he was also involved in a similar attack four months earlier. Taylor’s motives remain unclear, and charges are pending.
The attack has left the community shaken. Alijaj’s bravery in the face of danger highlights the selflessness and courage that can emerge in the most terrifying circumstances. As he begins his recovery, Alijaj’s story serves as a reminder of the resilience and heroism present in everyday individuals.
