Breaking News: L Train Shut Down, Suspicious Gas Released at Lorimer Street
Right now the L is down in both directions stemming from an incident at Lorimer Street. I live around the corner from the Lorimer Street stop so there is tons of activity around here. They have Metropolitan shut down for at least 5 blocks and there are hundreds of people milling around looking scared and curious, tons of police and fire trucks, as well as representatives from the Mayor’s office here investigating. The guy I spoke to from the Mayor’s office said they think some kids let off some pepper spray either in the station or one of the cars and that a few people inhaled it and were understandably distressed, but that it is most likely harmless. They are still investigating and not taking any chances. Did anyone else hear anything?
UPDATE–10:40 am: NY1 is saying the L just reopened and should be running shortly. Evidently someone set off mace or pepper spray on a Brooklyn bound L train at 3rd Ave. At f1st Avenue all the passengers in that car got off the train coughing and tearing, so the MTA employee there alerted the authorities. Then the train continued on to Lorimer Street where the car was investigated. Evidently no one was seriously hurt and this turned out to be a minor thing. The initial reports were definitely scary–glad it turned out to be fairly harmless.
Photo via Gothamist
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What idiot sprayed mace in a subway car with other people in it? Unless it was necessary to spray, I hope they arrest him/her and they get maximum punishment.
On the bright side, it sounds like the authorities mobilized and determined the severity (or lack thereof) very quickly, so that is comforting!