The suspect accused of setting a club promoter on fire in Times Square has been identified as food cart operator Ahmad Mossad, who has since fled to Egypt, sources told the New York Post.
Mossad allegedly doused 45-year-old Mark Whyte with an accelerant and set him ablaze outside Nebula nightclub on West 41st Street.
Authorities say the attacker, the nephew of the cart’s owner, knew Whyte and had previous interactions with him. A heated exchange between Whyte and Mossad outside a Times Square nightclub turned deadly when Mossad allegedly grabbed an accelerant from his food cart and set Whyte on fire, sources said.
Mossad fled the scene immediately and reportedly boarded a flight to Egypt the same day.
The reason behind the confrontation between Whyte and Mossad remains unclear, and it is unknown if authorities are pursuing Mossad in Egypt.
After being set on fire, Whyte ran nearly 100 feet before a bystander extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher.
Video footage from the scene captures Whyte in agony, covered in burns moments after the attack.
Footage shows Whyte shirtless and wrapped in a blue blanket on the sidewalk before being placed in an ambulance, surrounded by first responders.
Police were also seen speaking with a woman in a short dress and high heels, believed to be a companion of the victim.
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Whyte was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Cornell Hospital, where he remains in stable condition, according to police.
