A 38-year-old man was taken into custody early Tuesday after trying to start a fire aboard a moving CTA Blue Line train in Chicago’s Loop just after 6 a.m. Police say the incident involved the man’s personal belongings on a train in the 300-block of South Dearborn Street. No injuries were reported.
What the police say
According to Chicago police, the man was seen attempting to ignite his property while the train was in motion, then was arrested by responding officers at the scene. No actual fire took hold, and no one on the train was hurt, ABC7 Chicago reported. Detectives are still investigating, and charges are pending.
A worrying pattern on the Blue Line
The arrest lands in the middle of a troubling run of fire-related incidents on the Blue Line. In December, a rider set his belongings on fire and burned himself near the Damen stop, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The previous month, a passenger was doused with a liquid and set on fire aboard a Loop train, The Associated Press reported.
Rider safety and CTA response
Following the December case, the CTA rolled out a safety plan and insisted there was “no threat to rider safety stemming from this incident,” though some regulars have made it clear they are still uneasy about attacks on trains, ABC7 Chicago noted. Transit officials say they have boosted visible patrols and are working with CPD while the fire-related cases remain under investigation.
What comes next
Chicago police say the investigation into Tuesday’s incident is ongoing and that charges are still pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives or submit an anonymous tip to the CPD tipline, as reported by Yahoo.
