Mayor Nutter: Subways Safe Despite "Mindless Acts of Random Violence"

Mayor Nutter today assured SEPTA subway riders that the transit system is safe despite two recent violent attacks by groups of young people that left one person injured and another dead from a resulting asthma attack. Nutter called the attacks "completely stupid, senseless, mindless acts of random violence."

"The system is safe. People should continue to ride," Nutter said. "We will beef up patrols and other activities. There is a cooperative and great working relationship between SEPTA and the city Police. These are two random acts. It's just hard to account for some of the dumb things people do on a daily basis."

The latest victim told police a group of six boys and six girls attacked her in an underground SEPTA concourse at 8th and Market streets Wednesday evening.  A manager of a Center City Starbucks died from an asthma attack after a beating by a group of young men a week earlier in the same subway concourse a few blocks away.