NEW YORK CITY – The man accused of burning a woman on a New York City subway used a shirt to fan the flames, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his murder arraignment.

Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who immigration officials said was a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, did not enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court.

Zapeta, wearing white overalls over a weathered black hoodie, remains in jail and is due back in court on Friday. His lawyer did not ask for bail.

Zapeta is charged with two counts of murder: He accuses him of intentionally killing the woman and of killing her while committing arson. He is also accused of arson in one case. The top charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “cruel and senseless act of violence” and said it would “result in the most serious consequences.”

The seemingly random attack occurred Sunday morning on an F train stopped at the Coney Island station. The victim’s identification is still pending.

According to authorities, Zapeta approached the woman, who may have been sleeping on the train, and set her clothing on fire with a lighter.

Zapeta then used a shirt to fan the flames and engulf them in fire, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said in court Tuesday.

Zapeta then sat on a bench on the subway platform and watched, Rottenberg said.

According to Rottenberg, Zapeta told investigators he didn’t know what happened but identified himself in the images of the attack.

Zapeta’s attorney, Andrew Friedman, did not speak to reporters after the arraignment.

A video on social media appears to show some people watching from the platform and at least one police officer walking past as the woman burns on the train.

NYPD Traffic Services Chief Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the scene “as it should be” while the others fetched fire extinguishers and traffic workers.

“Officers patrolling an upper level of the station smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate. They saw a person completely engulfed in flames in the train car,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

They eventually put out the fire, but “unfortunately it was too late,” Tisch said, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zapeta was arrested Sunday afternoon while riding the train on the same subway line after teenagers recognized him in images distributed by police.

A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides shelter and substance abuse support. The animal shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Federal immigration officials said Zapeta was deported in 2018 but later re-entered the U.S. illegally.

The crime added to growing unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system, reinforced by graphic videos of the attack that caused a stir on social media.

Overall, crime in transit has decreased compared to last year.

According to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, serious crimes fell 6% between January and November compared to the same period last year. But the number of murders is increasing: nine murders have been committed this year through November, compared with five in the same period last year.

Contributor: Cedar Attanasio