A man is recovering Sunday after being set on fire near Times Square as police search for a suspect.
The male victim, 45, was set on fire in the area of West 41st Street and 7th Avenue around 4 a.m. Sunday, the NYPD said. Police said he may have had a flammable substance thrown onto him.
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Officers responded and observed the man on fire. The victim was assisted by the FDNY who put out the fire and took him to a local hospital where he is being treated for burns to his body, according to fire officials.
Police tell News 4 they believe the attacker was someone known to the victim.
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The attack caught people off guard as they were enjoying an early Sunday morning, just a few hours before the first NYC half marathon runners crossed through Time Square. Few people NBC New York spoke with said they would have ever imagined walking near a crime scene in the middle of Times Square.
"Sunday morning it’s a nice time to be out in the city and so I’m a bit shocked," said Kathy Holland.
"I feel sad for humanity. I don’t understand why somebody would do that. I feel like a lot of things are unsettled right now," Tammy Brawn told News 4.
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No arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing.
The incident follows another disturbing arson attack in the city that caused the death of a 57-year-old woman in December while she slept on a subway train.
