The gunman, who was dressed in clothing that resembled that of a subway construction worker, detonated a gas canister and opened fire on commuters shortly before 8.30am.

While the CCTV cameras in the station were broken, law enforcement officials were able to get an image of the suspect from a bystander’s cell phone video, ABC reports.

Inside the subway station police found a handgun with three extended round magazines. One in the gun jammed which is believed to have saved lives.

After the shooting, Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, warned that gun violence “has to end now”.

She said: “This morning ordinary New Yorkers woke up in anticipation of a relatively normal day. They left their homes, went to school, their jobs and to a normal life.

“This individual is still on the loose – this person is dangerous.

“No more mass shootings. No more disrupting lives. It has to end and end now.”