Man’s face severely burnt after he was set on fire in Times Square

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - MARCH 16 : Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit investigate the scene and canvass the area while looking at evidence including a fire extinguisher, jacket and other pieces of evidence at the gruesome scene where a man was set on fire in the heart of Times Square early Sunday morning at Broadway and West 41st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York, United States March 16, 2025. The NYPD is searching for a suspect who set a man on fire in Midtown early Sunday morning. Police received a 911 call at 3:55 a.m. about a person on fire at 41st Street and 7th Avenue. When police arrived at the scene, a 49-year-old man told them that a male suspect had approached him, thrown a liquid on him and started a fire. The victim suffered burns to his face and arms. The NYPD Crime Scene Unit is on the scene. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The arsonist is still on the run after setting a man on fire this morning (Picture: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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.

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - MARCH 16: A view of the crime scene as members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit investigate the scene and canvass the area while looking at evidence including a fire extinguisher, jacket and other pieces of evidence at the gruesome scene where a man was set on fire in the heart of Times Square early Sunday morning at Broadway and West 41st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York, United States March 16, 2025. The NYPD is searching for a suspect who set a man on fire in Midtown early Sunday morning. Police received a 911 call at 3:55 a.m. about a person on fire at 41st Street and 7th Avenue. When police arrived at the scene, a 49-year-old man told them that a male suspect had approached him, thrown a liquid on him and started a fire.The victim suffered burns to his face and arms. The NYPD Crime Scene Unit is on the scene. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A fire extinguisher, jacket and other pieces of evidence were scattered across the ground (Picture: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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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