Man Set on Fire in Times Square, Suspect at Large

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A 45-year-old man was set on fire in New York City's Times Square early Sunday morning, prompting an urgent investigation as the attacker remains at large. Police reports indicate that the victim was discovered ablaze around 4 a.m. and was taken to a nearby hospital where he is currently in stable condition. Eyewitness accounts detail the man running approximately 100 feet while on fire before bystanders intervened with a powder fire extinguisher to put out the flames, according to The Guardian.

Authorities revealed that the victim had been drenched with an accelerant from a Patron tequila bottle before being ignited. This incident echoes a previous arson attack three months ago in which a woman was fatally set on fire in a subway car, escalating public safety concerns in the city. The suspect in that case, identified as Sebastian Zapeta, has been charged with murder and arson.

As street violence becomes a pressing topic in New York's upcoming mayoral election, former governor Andrew Cuomo has declared the city “out of control,” while current Mayor Eric Adams argues that data shows crime rates are declining.

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