NEW YORK - A 25-year-old man is recovering after police say he was slashed in the face while on the subway in Manhattan early Tuesday morning.

The NYPD says the victim was asleep on a southbound E train around 4:45 a.m. when he awoke to a male attempting to remove his wallet.

Police say a confrontation ensued with the suspect pulling out an unknown sharp object and slashing the victim across the face.

Police say the suspect fled when the train pulled into the Varick Street and Spring Street station in SoHo.

The victim was taken to NY Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.

A description of the suspect was not immediately available.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-8477, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.