New York subway shooting: Frank James ordered to remain in jail without bail

Frank James 'caused terror among the victims and our entire city', prosecutors said in federal court

A US federal judge on Thursday ordered the suspect in the attack on a New York City subway car to remain in jail without bail after prosecutors said he remains an ongoing threat to the community.

The man, Frank James, made his first court appearance on Thursday wearing beige prison garb, black eyeglasses, a blue surgical facemask and sneakers. He faces a federal charge of violently attacking a mass transit system.

Two public defenders representing Mr James requested that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Prosecutors said Mr James "terrifyingly opened fire" on commuters riding a subway train. Assistant US Attorney Sara Winik said in court that the attack interrupted "the morning commute in a way this city hasn't seen in more than 20 years".

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  Police circulated images of Frank R James, 62, after the mass shooting in Brooklyn, New York. EPA

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  Emergency crews at the entrance to the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, after the rush-hour shooting on Tuesday. AP

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  Police and fire officials at the scene in New York. EPA

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  Several people were shot, with wounded commuters left bleeding on the platform. EPA

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  At least 13 people were injured. AP

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  Officers with dogs trained to sniff out explosives were among the police at the scene. AP

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  Sniffer dogs at the station. AP

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  Police and fire crews at the scene. EPA

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  The fire department said 13 people were injured, while police said at least five had been shot. AFP

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  Heavily armed police at the cordoned-off station. Getty

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  Onlookers stand behind the cordon. Getty

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  Rush-hour commuters were caught up in the incident. AFP

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  Bomb disposal experts arrive at the station. EPA

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  Emergency services vehicles outside the scene of the shooting. AP

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  Police and rescue workers crowd the street outside the station after the shooting. AFP

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  New York commuters wait for a subway train after the shooting. Reuters

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  A police officer and dog check a subway station in Manhattan after the Brooklyn incident. Reuters

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  Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers carry out checks in Manhattan. Reuters

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  Stations throughout the network were on alert. Reuters

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  Police and security officers on patrol at Manhattan's 42nd Street station. Reuters

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  Heavily armed police at the scene of the shooting in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighbourhood. AFP

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  Emergency workers at the scene of the shooting. EPA

“The defendant’s attack was premeditated, was carefully planned, and it caused terror among the victims and our entire city," Ms Winik said.

Mr James only spoke "yes" to answer basic questions during the proceeding in Brooklyn.

In a court filing submitted before Thursday's court appearance, Ms Winik said Mr James's conduct "was extraordinarily serious".

US Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann ordered Mr James to be held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, the main jail for defendants awaiting federal trial in New York City, pending a bail application from his lawyers.

Mr James was arrested on Wednesday about 8 kilometres from the scene of Tuesday's attack, ending a 30-hour manhunt after police received several phone-call tip-offs, including at least one from Mr James himself.

“We got him,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams told reporters after the arrest.

Ten people were shot in the subway carriage on Tuesday, police said, with five of them in stable condition in hospital, and 13 more injured in the stampede of passengers fleeing on to the platform of 36th Street Station in Brooklyn.

All are expected to survive.

Investigators said they identified Mr James as a suspect after recovering a credit card with his name on it at the crime scene, along with the keys to a U-Haul van he rented and parked several blocks away.

Police also recovered the gun used in the attack, three extended-ammunition magazines, a torch, a hatchet, a bag of fireworks and petrol.

Police tracked him down after receiving tips from residents who recognised Mr James from photos issued by police. Mr James also alerted police to his whereabouts and identified himself on a hotline, telling authorities he was at a McDonald's restaurant in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

He was arrested without incident, police said.

“We hope this arrest brings some solace to the victims and the people of the city of New York,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said on Wednesday.

Mr James had 12 previous arrests between 1990 and 2007, the New York Police Department said. He was previously arrested on a felony but was not prohibited from purchasing a firearm. Police said the gun used in the attack was legally purchased in 2011 at an Ohio pawn broker.

Police have not yet offered a motive for the assault, but Mr James posted several videos about Mr Adams, race, violence and his history with mental illness.

A YouTube account apparently belonging to Mr James was taken down on Wednesday for violating the online video platform's “community guidelines”, the company said.

Agencies contributed to this report