New York City underground shooting leaves several injured

At least thirteen people were shot and wounded in a rush-hour shooting on the New York City underground on Tuesday, with at least five people suffering gunshot wounds, in which a gas bomb was apparently also detonated, according to local media. Although a Police Department spokesman said no explosives were found at the scene.

Police are searching for a man wearing an orange construction waistcoat and a gas mask as the alleged perpetrator of the shooting. According to some local media, the suspect has been described by witnesses as a black man, approximately 5'6" tall and about 180 pounds, although there is no official confirmation at this time.

In addition, several schools near the site of the shooting have been placed under lockdown, in which schools close their doors and avoid outside visitors, according to a Department of Education spokesman.

Images posted on social media show several injured and blood-covered people being treated on a platform at the 36th Street station in Brooklyn, in the Sunset Park neighbourhood, an area with a large Mexican population.

Some pictures have also been posted of an underground car filled with smoke, and it is unclear at this stage whether the shooting took place at the station or inside a train.

According to CNN, at least thirteen people were injured, at least five of them with bullet wounds. Authorities have asked citizens to avoid the area, where numerous ambulances and police units have been deployed.

State governor Kathy Hochul tweeted that she has received a report of the situation in Brooklyn and that emergency crews are in the area. City officials said they are trying to gather information about the incident, for which the motive is not yet known.