Manhunt for assailant after 10 shot in New York subway attack

A massive manhunt was underway on Tuesday in New York for a man who donned a gas mask before setting off two smoke bombs in a packed subway train and shooting 10 terrified commuters.

Police said the incident in Brooklyn was not being investigated as an act of terrorism, with no indication of a motive at this stage.

New York Police Department commissioner Keechant Sewell told a press conference the suspected gunman put on a gas mask just as the train was arriving at the station.

The gunman “opened two canisters that dispensed smoke throughout the subway car”, she said.

“He then shot multiple passengers as the train pulled into the 36th Street station.”

In addition to the 10 gunshot victims, 13 others were injured as they tried to get out of the station or suffered smoke inhalation.

None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

“We are truly fortunate this was not significantly worse than it is,” Sewell said.

New York Police Department chief James Essig said the gunman had fired 33 shots.

Police later recovered a Glock 17 9mm handgun, three additional ammunition magazines and a hatchet from the scene.

Sewell said they had identified a “person of interest” and described him as a “dark-skinned male” wearing a neon orange vest and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

They did not have anyone in custody, she said.

Both Sewell and Essig said the person of interest had posted several videos on YouTube of himself delivering long, sometimes aggressive political tirades.

He also criticised New York City mayor Eric Adams.

Mass casualty shootings happen with relative frequency in the US, where firearms are involved in about 40,000 deaths a year.