Horrifying footage has emerged of an attempted abduction which took place on a New York City subway train in the Bronx.

Sonny Alloway, 48, was arrested after the incident on a 6 train at 2:45a.m. Monday.

He was filmed by a bystander first trying to talk to the unidentified woman as she slept with her face covered, then grabbing her and running off the train with her when it was at a stop at the Morrison Avenue-Soundview station.

Once on the platform, Alloway appeared to lose his nerve. He let go of the woman and she wrangled free, running back on to the train with the help of another passenger.

Alloway was arrested for unlawful imprisonment.

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Would-be abductor Sonny Alloway was filmed on Monday at 2.45am attempting to kidnap the woman from the train

Sonny Alloway, dressed in red, at first tried to wake the woman as she slept on the train. Then, once it had come to a stop, he grabbed her and carried her off onto the platform

Alloway then attempted to keep her on the platform as horrified onlookers watched

In the video, the woman - whose age and name have not been revealed - appeared to be trying to sleep when he first starting speaking to her.

It is unclear if she is homeless. She was sitting on the subway with a scarf covering her face, trying to ignore him, as he spoke to her.

In one sudden motion once the train had stopped, Alloway sprang from his seat, picked her up and carried her slight frame off the train.

She kicked and struggled against him.

Once on the platform, he let her go and sat on a bench as if nothing had happened, before making his way out of the station.

Another man from the train was jolted awake by the commotion. The woman appeared to know him and was gesturing for him to wake up, saying: 'He grabbed me!'

The man - who was not wearing shoes - then walked off the train as if to approach Alloway before returning to his seat.

Alloway was then arrested nearby.

The woman was able to break free from him and ran back on to the train