8 hurt in bear spray incident on Union Square subway

Eight people were impacted, four of them sent to hospitals, after someone released bear spray in a train car at Union Square Sunday night, authorities say.

Police responding to a call on the southbound No. 4 train at 14th Street-Union Square shortly after 9:30 p.m. found the victims. Half of them refused medical attention at the scene; the other half were taken to a hospital and were expected to be OK.

The NYPD says they’re looking for a man around age 30 wearing a camouflage ski mask. They say he ran upstairs after spraying the irritant, out of the station and onto the street, where he vanished. The suspect may have been involved in an argument with another person on the train prior to the incident. Details are unclear.

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Video posted to the Citizen app showed the law enforcement response. Subway service in the area was briefly affected.

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Bear spray is designed to stop aggressive bears by spewing a cloud of hot pepper oil that bothers their eyes and lungs. It is only supposed to be used in those scenarios.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.