NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police are searching for a suspect after they said a man was slashed early Tuesday morning on a subway train near Grand Central Terminal.

A man and his wife were riding a northbound 6 train around 3:20 a.m. when police said an intoxicated passenger started making inappropriate comments about the man’s wife.

Investigators said the husband approached the drunk man, who pulled a small blade from his backpack and cut the man’s hand.

When the train stopped at Grand Central, the couple got off the train and flagged down help. Police said the suspect stayed on the northbound train.

Across the city, slashings and stabbings are up by 20 percent, but those same NYPD statistics show knife attacks on trains are down since last year, CBS2’s Magdalena Doris reported.

Nevertheless, commuters are keeping vigilant, especially in the early morning hours.

“At midnight, there’s kinda freaky people on the train so I keep to myself,” said subway rider Isaac Gonzalez.

“I have daughters I have to worry about, they take the train every day to go to school,” another commuter told 1010 WINS’ Glenn Schuck. “You can’t stop crazies from getting on the train.”

Still, other straphangers said they feel secure and that the subway is an integral part of New York City.

“I think this is one of the greatest cities on Earth,” another commuter said.

The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The investigation is ongoing.