Port Authority Police Hunt Suspects In Christopher Street PATH Station Assault

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for six people who they say attacked a man at the Christopher Street PATH station Sunday morning.

As CBS 2's Alice Gainer reported, police said the 44-year-old victim approached the turnstile around 6:30 a.m., but three men and three women were blocking it. He asked them to move, and they started assaulting him, authorities said. The man ran up the stairs to the street, but the group followed him, kicking and punching him more, according to police.

The victim suffered cuts to his head, lip and hand. He was treated and released at Jersey City Medical Center, closer to where he lives in New Jersey.

Ironically, just outside the station a sign is posted alerting people that blocking pedestrian traffic is against the law.

Port Authority Police have released surveillance images of the suspects taken in and around the station in the West Village. They are all said to be in their 20s. All three of the men were wearing hats. One woman has bright red hair.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Port Authority Police at 800-828-7273. All calls will be kept confidential.

PATH riders said word of the attack surprised them.

"As I know, it's not so frequent, not normal," one man told Gainer.

"I've been commuting here at the PATH for ... eight years actually," said Sean Gordon. "I've never seen any problem like it."

But at least one woman said she usually chooses other stops for a reason.

"I've been advised to avoid this stop in dark hours," said Cynthia Salinas.

Police said they're comparing the surveillance photos to see if the suspects were involved in a similar incident at the Ninth Street PATH station last month.

Photos of the suspects can be seen below:

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