Fact Check: "Attack occurred after woman denied stranger's phone request on subway platform."
What We Know
On June 13, 2025, a 25-year-old woman was attacked on a subway train in the Bronx after she refused a stranger's request to use her cellphone. According to reports, the assailant sprayed an unidentified substance, initially believed to be pepper spray, into her face and on her arm. The incident occurred while she was traveling with her 11-month-old daughter, who also received some of the spray. Both mother and daughter were taken to Mount Sinai Queens and were reported to be in stable condition following the attack (source, source).
Analysis
The claim that the attack occurred after the woman denied a stranger's request for her phone is corroborated by multiple news sources. The New York Post and PIX11 both detail the sequence of events leading to the attack, confirming that the assailant approached the woman specifically to ask for her cellphone. When she declined, he reacted violently by spraying her with a substance.
The reliability of these sources is generally high, as they are established news organizations with a history of covering crime and public safety issues. However, it is important to note that the initial reports described the substance as "mystery" and "initially believed to be pepper spray," indicating some uncertainty about the exact nature of the substance used in the attack. This ambiguity does not detract from the core claim regarding the motive behind the attack, which remains consistent across reports.
Conclusion
The claim that the attack occurred after the woman denied a stranger's phone request on a subway platform is True. The evidence from multiple credible news sources supports this assertion, detailing the events leading up to the attack and confirming the woman's refusal as a catalyst for the assailant's violent reaction.
