News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Tribune News Service
New York City's transit system has seen a 9% increase in felony assaults this year, with elderly riders being disproportionately targeted, accounting for 17% of attacks. According to NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta, nearly half of all felony assaults involve attacks on the elderly, police officers, and MTA workers. So far this year, there have been 435 reported transit-related assaults, compared to 397 at the same time last year, with repeat offenders making up most of those arrested for these crimes. The NYPD is prioritizing efforts to address these rising attacks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Elderly riders are disproportionately affected by a surge in New York City subway attacks, which have increased by 9% this year compared to the same period last year. The NYPD's transit chief, Joseph Gulotta, attributes the rise in assaults to attacks on police officers, MTA workers, and elderly straphangers, which together account for nearly 50% of felony assaults. In fact, elderly people were the victims in 17% of the 435 assaults investigated by police through August this year. The situation has led officials to express concern, with Gulotta stating that the department takes these attacks "very seriously." One elderly rider who was shoved onto the tracks at a station said she feels like nothing is being done to address the problem, adding to her frustration.
Written for “NYC Subway Attack Rise” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 5589 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
Elderly riders bear brunt of rising New York City subway attacks
A woman, who ended up in hospital after being shoved onto the tracks at a station, said ‘nobody’s doing anything’ about the spike in assaults
Attacks on elderly straphangers are fuelling a spike in felony assaults within the New York City subway system, according to New York Police Department’s transit chief Joseph Gulotta.
As the NYPD contends with a 9 per cent jump in felony assaults in the city transit system this year, the department’s transit chief said roughly half of all attacks on the rails are targeting a few select groups.
uncertain
half → bear → groups
“What is driving them is assaults on police officers, assaults on MTA workers and assaults on the elderly,” Gulotta told a news briefing at the NYPD’s Manhattan headquarters on Friday.
asserted
Gulotta → drive → Friday
“When you put those three together, that’s almost 50 per cent of felony assaults.”
asserted
that → put → assaults
“That’s something we’re really geared up on.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
It’s something we take very seriously.”
asserted
we → ’ → ?
Police have investigated 435 assaults in transit this year through the end of August, compared with the 397 reported by that time last year.
asserted
Police → investigate → time
Elderly people were the victims in 17 per cent of the attacks, officials said.
asserted
officials → say → attacks
Police made up another 21 per cent of the victims.
asserted
Police → make → victims
While assaults in the subways are up, random attacks are down by 8 per cent, from 69 last year to 63 this year, police said.
asserted
police → say → 63
Unprovoked felony assaults decreased by 4 per cent, from 71 last year to 68.
asserted
assaults → decrease → 68
Those arrested for assaults are mostly repeat offenders, police said.
asserted
police → arrest → assaults
