New York bomber on terrorist charges
UNITED STATES: US prosecutors have brought federal charges against the suspect in Tuesday’s attempted suicide bombing in one of New York City’s busiest commuter hubs, accusing him of supporting a foreign terrorist organisation.
Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi and self-described supporter of the radical group Islamic State, was also charged in a criminal complaint filed in US district court in Manhattan yesterday with bombing a public place, destruction of property by means of explosive, and use of a destructive device.
Ullah planned to ‘‘murder as many human beings as he could ... in support of a vicious terrorist cause,’’ acting US attorney Joon Kim said.
Police have said that Ullah set off a pipe bomb in an underground corridor of the subway system that connects Times Square to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at morning rush hour, injuring himself and three others.
He told police interviewers after the blast, ‘‘I did it for the Islamic State,’’ according to court papers filed by federal prosecutors.
Ullah began the process of self radical is at ion in 2014 when he started viewing pro-Islamic State materials online and carried out his attack because he was angry over US policies in the Middle East, prosecutors said.
New York officials on Tuesday also filed state charges against Ullah, as investigators in his home country questioned his wife.
The federal charges, which are expected to take precedence over the state charges, carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
On the morning of the attack, Ullah posted on his Facebook page, ‘‘Trump you failed to protect your nation.’’
Ullah’s passport, which was recovered from his home, had handwritten notes, including one that read, ‘‘O America, die in your rage‘‘.
Investigators found a nine-volt battery inside Ullah’s pants pocket, as well as fragments from a metal pipe and the remnants of what appeared to be a Christmas tree light bulb attached to wires.
Ullah told investigators he built the bomb at his Brooklyn home, filling the pipe with metal screws to maximise damage. He chose a workday to target as many people as possible.