Washington: At least five people were shot inside a subway train on Tuesday morning in Brooklyn, Al Jazeera reported.
According to the police at least 13 people had been taken to local hospitals, adding that the nature of all the injuries was still unclear as to whether they had been shot, or were injured by shrapnel from a suspected smoke bomb.
Eyewitnesses told the media that the attack happened at about 0830 am as the N train began to pull out of the 59th street station, adding that white smoke billowed in the adjoining train car loud bangs were heard.
After initial reports circulated that undetonated devices had been found at the scene of crime, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) later tweeted and clarified there were no active explosive devices were found at the station.
Police are searching for a suspect, who was described as a Black man wearing an orange construction vest and a gas mask.
Images from the scene showed people tending to injured passengers lying on the floor of the station bleeding, while smoke could be seen in the air at the station. Witnesses alleged that one or more smoke canisters were used in the attack.