By: Mario Mancini

Nile Taylor, the man accused of setting a fellow subway rider ablaze over the weekend, appeared in Manhattan court on Monday, where a judge set his bail at $250,000. Taylor, 49, showed a vacant grimace during the hearing as prosecutors unveiled his extensive criminal history, NY Post reported.

Taylor allegedly hurled a flaming can of alcohol at 23-year-old Petrit Alijaj on Saturday. This incident is just the latest in a series of crimes committed by Taylor, who has previously served prison time for gun possession and forgery, according to Manhattan Criminal Court records.

“This is a strong case,” Assistant District Attorney Aryan Ahmadian asserted to Judge Cori Weston. “The defendant was arrested shortly after the incident on Saturday afternoon, and he was in possession of multiple lighters and a bottle containing rubbing alcohol.”

During the chaotic attack, Taylor is said to have set the floor of a No. 1 train on fire by tossing the flaming liquid at Alijaj. The young man suffered severe burns to his face and chest as a result.

Taylor’s demeanor in court was notably blank, staring straight ahead or down at the floor during the proceedings. Judge Weston, considering Taylor’s criminal history and the nature of the charges, set bail at the requested $250,000 cash.

Taylor’s rap sheet includes a conviction for criminal possession of a loaded firearm and forgery, for which he served over two years in state prison. Additionally, Taylor is allegedly linked to another incident where he was caught on surveillance footage throwing cans of flammable liquid at a group of people at the West 28th Street subway on February 5. In that case, Taylor reportedly identified himself in the footage, and the investigation is ongoing, according to Ahmadian.

The subway attack on Alijaj occurred as he and his fiancée were riding a No. 1 train at the West Houston and Varick streets station at 2:45 p.m. Taylor allegedly threw the flaming liquid at Alijaj, igniting his shirt and causing burns to 30% of his body.

Taylor faces two assault charges and a menacing charge in connection with the subway fire attack. “Without warning…[He] attacked two strangers inside of that subway train by throwing the burning liquid onto them,” Ahmadian stated in court. “The burning liquid landed on the floor of the subway station, causing the floor to catch on fire.”

A homeless man residing at a Harlem shelter where Taylor recently stayed described him as a quiet loner with a potentially dangerous side. “He just sat and waited for meals. He wasn’t social. He just sat by himself,” said Stefan, a 61-year-old shelter resident. “Usually on the [meal] line you’ll say, ‘Hey, how was your day?’ or ‘Hey, did you read any good books lately?’ …. [But] he was just always quiet.”

Stefan speculated that Taylor’s quiet demeanor might mask a more sinister nature, noting, “The quiet ones — still waters run deep. You see the guy who’s quiet and nice — and he’s the guy that’s got 32 bodies buried.”

In addition to the assault and menacing charges, Taylor was also arraigned on a petit larceny charge for allegedly stealing an iPhone inside the subway station. Taylor’s lawyer, Gretchen Resser, did not make any statements in court aside from inquiring about the date of the next hearing, and she did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.