Metro Boosts Patrols, K-9 Sweeps After New York Subway Shooting

WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is increasing patrols on its transit system after several people were shot on a subway platform in New York City Tuesday morning.

Metro said there are currently no known specific or credible threats to its system in the D.C. area.

“We are monitoring the developing situation in New York,” WMATA spokesman Ian Jannetta said in an email to Patch. “Additional K-9 sweeps and patrols are being implemented in the system as a precaution.”

WMATA also is alerting its employees and customers to immediately report any suspicious activity to the Metro Transit Police Department by calling 202-962-2121, or texting MY-MPTD (69-6873).

New York City police are looking for a man in a gas mask who shot at least eight people in a train packed with rush hour commuters in Brooklyn Tuesday morning.

READ ALSO: Explosives Found, 5 People Shot In Sunset Park Subway: Officials

Video shows screaming commuters fleeing a smoke-filled train at the 36th Street station at Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, where New York firefighters said they found explosive devices and bleeding straphangers about 8:30 a.m.

"My subway door opened into calamity," eyewitness Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS. "It was smoke and blood and people screaming."

President Joe Biden was being kept informed on the incident, a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.

"We're horrified by this morning's event @NYCTSubway & continue to monitor security of our system w/heightened awareness," the Metro Transit Police Department said in a tweet at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Patch editor Kayla Levy contributed to this article.