Boston man charged with attempted kidnapping, making threats on MBTA train

BOSTON, May 21, 2026 – A Boston man was ordered held without bail Wednesday pending a dangerousness hearing in BMC Central after being charged with attempting to kidnap a three-year-old boy and threatening his mother on a Green Line Trolley on Tuesday, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

LIBAN DUALLE, 33, was charged with attempt to commit a crime (kidnapping), threat to commit a crime, disorderly conduct on a public conveyance, and two counts of assault and battery.

Judge James Coffey ordered Dualle held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on May 26.

At about 12:53 p.m. on May 19, MBTA Transit police were dispatched to the westbound platform of the Park Street MBTA station for a report of an unruly male passenger, later identified as Dualle.

A female passenger reported boarding an empty E Line trolley at North Station with her three-year-old son when Dualle boarded the trolley and sat one seat away from her and her son. The victim said Dualle tried to “flirt” with her, but she ignored him and when he became more aggressive, she tried to look away. He asked for her number and made statements such as “we should get out of here.” Another female passenger intervened by trying to distract the victim with conversation.

Between the Haymarket and Government Center stations, Dualle became interested in the victim’s son and tried to tickle him by touching his feet with his fingers. The victim told Dualle to leave her son alone. Dualle then threatened the victim by making a “finger gun” and pointed to her while stating “I’ll (expletive) kill you; you understand me? I’ll shoot you.” Dualle then stated “Look he wants to come with me. Look at the way he’s looking at me. He wants me.” Dualle then tried to remove the child from his stroller by grabbing his leg and pulling him up. Another passenger and an MBTA employee intervened by pushing Dualle away. Dualle was forced off the trolley by the MBTA employee when they arrived at Park Street Station.

Officers conducted a search of the area and observed a person matching the description given of Dualle, at the intersection of Chauncy and Summer streets. In a show-up identification, the victim positively identified Dualle.

“No user of public transportation should have to experience an episode like this, particularly a parent with a young child. I’m grateful for the passenger and the MBTA employee who helped this mother and child and I’m thankful police were able to identify and locate this defendant in fairly quick order,” Hayden said.

 All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications