Man Set on Fire in New York City's Times Square, as 'Unidentified' Attacker Fled the Scene: Police

An individual set a man on fire in New York City’s Times Square, before fleeing the scene. Now, a police investigation has been prompted to look for the “unidentified” attacker.

Shortly before 4 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 16, the New York Police Department (NYPD) discovered a man, 45, set on fire in the area of West 41st Street and 7th Avenue, a spokesperson for the department tells PEOPLE.

The area is near the popular Times Square Tower in the heart of midtown Manhattan.

The attacker allegedly “lit the victim on fire before fleeing to parts unknown,” the NYPD said, adding that the victim was then taken by ambulance to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition as of the afternoon, per the department.

“Based on statements made by the victim, there is reason to believe that the victim knew the perpetrator,” the NYPD said. “There are no arrests at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.”

Footage shared by The New York Post shows the aftermath of the fire, with the victim sitting in the back of an ambulance while an apparent companion of his spoke with authorities.

Sources told the outlet that the victim and the attacker spoke at a food cart before the fire. Later on, the suspect was believed to have taken something off the food cart and used it as an accelerant to set the man on fire after the victim ducked into a club, per the Post.

According to the outlet, the victim ran roughly 100 feet while on fire before someone used a fire extinguisher on him.

As for the suspect, fire marshals told the outlet that they fled north of Broadway. Sources added that security camera footage is being used in an attempt to identify the attacker.

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The latest fire-related attack in New York City comes months after a 67-year-old man was discovered on fire in Penn Station. The man sustained “burn injuries to both of his legs and upper body” on Dec. 27, police said.

Just days prior to that incident, a man allegedly set an unidentified woman on fire as she slept on a stationary subway train on Dec. 22, before sitting down and watching as she burned to death, per authorities.