[SuziQ]

suddenly he launches an unprovoked barrage of punches against a seated passenger...
Several other passengers momentarily subdue the bad guy - train pulls into the station - bad guy attempts to non-chalantly leave the the train and the station.

This is the difference between PRE and POST 9/11. My guess is that before, most other strap hangers would NOT have entered the fracas, preferring to 'not get involved'. Now they undersatnd that all of them could be targets, so they are acting in self-defense even if the original attack is not aimed at them! This is really good news!

[Fujiwara]

Good point. Was also gratified that many people stayed around to give contact info to the police, offered to be witnesses,etc.

[Timesink]

This is the difference between PRE and POST 9/11. My guess is that before, most other strap hangers would NOT have entered the fracas, preferring to 'not get involved'.

A big part of that reason is that pre-9/11, anyone who had tried to subdue him would have been at as much risk of prosecution as the psycho.

[Elsie]

This is really good news!

AMEN!

[nagdt]

My thoughts exactly. Planes, subways, busses. No matter when..no matter where the fanatical murderous Islamic Jihad'ers may strike, we are ready to kick some ass.