New York: Woman dies after being set on fire in subway as manhunt underway

New York City Police are investigating the death of a woman who was sleeping on a stationary subway train before she was intentionally set on fire.

Police said an unknown man had approached the woman, set her on fire and then left the subway car around 7:30am on Sunday.

Officers on a routine patrol at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station soon discovered the unidentified woman on fire, in the middle of the train, after they smelled smoke and noticed some commotion on the platform, said Detective Austin Glickman.

After the fire was extinguished, emergency medical personnel declared the unidentified woman dead at the scene, he said. No arrests have been made so far.

Police are asking for the public’s help in the case, which is being investigated as a homicide. A reward up to $US10,000 ($A15,995) is being offered for information.

The man is described as approximately 25-to-30 years old.

The subway car was sitting idle at the end of the line at the time. Often, the doors are left open so the train cars can be cleaned or during a temporary pause in service.