NYPD Investigating Sparks, Blast in Brooklyn Subway Station

Police are investigating after video surfaced online showing what appears to be a small explosion in a subway station in Brooklyn.

Video posted on YouTube shows a blinding flash as a train pulls into the Nostrand Avenue C train station in Bedford-Stuyvesant Thursday morning. 

Gothamist reports that the flash was caused by a metal rollsign box that vandals had placed on the electrified third rail. Rollsigns are commonly seen in older trains and show upcoming stops.

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Police say that the train's motorman noticed the metal object in the track bed as the train pulled into the station and engaged the emergency brakes, but the first car hit the obstructing object.

The rollsign was removed and the train was able to remain in service, police say. 

The MTA says that if someone had intentionally put a metal object on the tracks and caused the explosion, that person endangered straphangers and subway employees. The blast also caused delays during the morning rush.

“It is unconscionable that vandals would have deliberately endangered the lives of our customers and employees, as well as delayed thousands of customers during the morning rush,” the authority said. “We will work with the NYPD to identify and capture the perpetrators responsible for this."

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