Suspects collared for terrifying NYC subway slashing spree

Four suspects were collared Friday in a horrific string of random early-morning subway slashings in Manhattan that left one victim knifed in the eye, police said.

A 12-inch serrated kitchen knife that cops believe was used in the crimes has been recovered, law-enforcement sources said.

Soto Burgos, Kenneth Herrera and Joesph Foster face charges of first-degree robbery in connection with the attacks, sources said. Another person in custody is not being charged and was cooperative in the investigation, according to sources.

Police said one of the suspects was previously arrested in January in connection with a similar knifepoint robbery and released on his own recognizance for that crime. Two of the suspects are juveniles, sources said.

“I am happy to report that we have a number of people in custody at this time that we believe are responsible for the incidents,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said during a press conference outside Transit District 1 near Central Park, about 12 hours after the first incident.

Shea said “sharp-eyed police work” and images of the suspects gleaned from MTA cameras led to the busts. At least some of those apprehended were wearing white surgical masks when nabbed, police said.

Police officials say the terrifying subterranean crime spree began after 4:20 a.m. when a 44-year-old man sitting on a southbound No. 4 train was approached by three to five goons and then slashed in the face at the Union Square stop.

The victim exited the train at that station, and the thugs continued riding, carrying out their next attack about 5 minutes later as the train approached the Astor Place stop.

The suspects attacked two other men on the train there, punching a 41-year-old in the face, causing a cut, and slashing another man in the nose.

Those two victims exited the train at Astor Place.

About 5 minutes later, the thugs targeted a 44-year-old man boarding the No. 4 train and slashed him across the left cheek, said NYPD Deputy Inspector Steven Hill.

The suspects also robbed that victim of his wallet and cell phone, police said. The robbers eventually tossed the phone away on the tracks after futilely trying to open it, sources said.

The victim exited the train at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station, “and the suspects, one again, remained on the train as it proceeded southbound,” said Hill.

About 30 minutes later, a 48-year-old man was near 59th Street and Columbus Circle when he said “a group of males did approach him and proceeded to stab him in the right eye with a knife,” Hill said.

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was in stable condition and underwent surgery.