A woman died after she was set on fire while sleeping on a New York City subway car Sunday morning in Brooklyn, according to police. A person of interest was taken into custody later in the day, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at an early evening news conference.

A suspect has been arrested in New York over the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident on Sunday as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being".

The "person of interest" was taken into custody hours after the attack while riding another train, according to NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta.