Man is accused of pushing a woman’s head against a moving subway train

A 39-year-old man was charged Tuesday with pushing a woman’s head against a moving subway train in an apparently random attack at a Manhattan station that left the woman seriously injured, police said.

The man, Kamal Semrade, was arrested late Monday at a homeless shelter near La Guardia Airport in Queens, police said. He was charged with attempted murder and assault and awaited arraignment Tuesday evening, officials said.

The push episode was the latest disturbing example of the kind of random violent crime that has made some New Yorkers wary of the subway and led officials to flood stations with police officers to reassure travelers that the mass transit system is safe.

Mr Semrade and his victim, who is 35, boarded the same E train early on Sunday, with Mr Semrade entering first by jumping a turnstile, police said. Both got off when the train stopped at Lexington Avenue/63rd Street station around 6 a.m., police said (the E was running on Line F due to track work).

As the train began to depart, police said, Mr Semrade approached the woman from behind and pushed her head into it, causing her to fall backwards onto the platform. She was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition with spinal injuries and lacerations to her head, police said.

Police have not released the woman’s name, but an online fundraiser set up to help pay for her medical expenses identifies her as Emine Yilmaz Oszoy, an illustrator and designer.

Maria Cramer and Andy Newman contributed reporting. Kirsten Noyes contributed research.