Fact Check: 25-year-old woman attacked with pepper spray while holding 11-month-old baby!
What We Know
On June 20, 2025, a 25-year-old mother and her 11-month-old baby were reportedly attacked with what she believed to be pepper spray while on a subway train in Long Island City, Queens. According to reports from ABC7 New York and NBC New York, the incident occurred after the mother declined a request from a man to borrow her cell phone while they were waiting for the train. The man later attacked her and her child as the train approached the Court Square-23rd Street station, using a substance that caused burning sensations in their eyes and difficulty breathing. Both victims were taken to a hospital for evaluation and were reported to be physically okay after the incident.
Analysis
The reports from both ABC7 and NBC New York provide consistent details about the incident, including the mother's age, the age of the baby, and the sequence of events leading to the attack. Both sources confirm that the attacker fled the scene after the assault, and police are actively seeking information regarding the suspect. The credibility of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of reliable reporting.
However, it is worth noting that while the mother described the substance as pepper spray, initial reports did not confirm the exact nature of the spray, referring to it as a "mystery substance" in some accounts, such as that from the New York Post. This discrepancy highlights the need for caution in labeling the substance until further investigation by authorities can confirm its identity.
Despite this minor inconsistency, the core facts of the incident—namely, that a mother and her baby were attacked on a subway train—are corroborated by multiple reliable sources, making the claim credible.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that a 25-year-old woman was attacked with pepper spray while holding her 11-month-old baby is supported by multiple reputable news sources. The details of the incident are consistent across reports, and while the exact nature of the spray is still under investigation, the overall account of the attack is verified.
