New York, Jan 1 (NationPress) US authorities have confirmed the identity of a woman who was tragically burned alive and rendered unrecognizable while aboard a Brooklyn subway train last week in New York City.

The police have named the victim as Debrina Kawam, aged 61, from Toms River, New Jersey, according to a report from Xinhua news agency citing The New York Times.

She fell victim to an apparently random attack that was captured on video, showing her desperately bracing against the doorway of an F train in Coney Island as flames enveloped her body. Shortly thereafter, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old man, was charged with first-degree murder and arson for the attack.

Throughout the investigation, authorities utilized every available resource to identify the victim. Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn district attorney, stated during a press conference that they collected her fingerprints and DNA evidence. Surveillance footage from the subway was also reviewed in hopes of capturing a clear image of her face before the fire.

"It’s a priority for me, for my office, and for the Police Department to identify this woman so we can reach out to her family about the tragedy that has befallen her," Gonzalez remarked.

The shocking incident occurred on December 22, as the train was nearing the Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.

During a press briefing, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the attack as "one of the most depraved crimes imaginable against another human being," emphasizing that it resulted in the death of an "innocent New Yorker."

"As the train approached the station, the suspect calmly approached the victim, who was seated at the end of the subway car. Using what is believed to be a lighter, the suspect ignited the victim's clothing, which was engulfed in flames within moments," Tisch explained.

Patrol officers stationed on the upper level of the station noticed smoke and went to investigate, only to find the woman standing inside the train car, completely engulfed in flames.