Fulton Street Station Panic Triggers Stampede, Witnesses Say

NEW YORK CITY -- Panic erupted in the Fulton Street station Monday evening when an arrest led at least one terrified straphanger to shout out, "Gun," according to witnesses and transit sources.

A stampede of people fled the A/C platform near Fulton and Williams streets when police arrested a man armed with a knife at about 5:20 p.m., according to a transit source and commuters.

Someone witnessed the arrest and screamed, triggering the crowd to flee the station, the source said.

Police said no shots were fired in the station, and did not have immediate information about the arrest, but Twitter user Johnny Roderick said he heard at least one person shout, "Gun!"

Akua, a commuter, told Patch she was forced out of the station in the crowd.

"As my colleague and I were descending down on the first escalator, we noticed people running towards us," Akua said. "It was just scary to see that, and the police were just too casual about it."

Akua said she saw about a dozen officers outside the station, "but they were just talking and lounging like nothing just happened."

The stampede was reported by several commuters who described the event as terrifying.

"We received word that NYPD and station personnel swept the station and area and were unable to find anything that our passengers safety at risk," the MTA tweeted in response.

"Personnel will continue to monitor the area."