Bungling bomber terror in New York
A SUSPECTED Islamic terrorist who detonated a suicide vest at one of the busiest commuter hubs in New York yesterday carried out the bungled attack in the name of Isis.
Police sources said that Akayed Ullah was “self-radicalised online”, but his homemade device went off early injuring three people.
The vest exploded as Ullah walked through a tunnel between Times Square and Port Authority, a bus and subway station, and caused a stampede as people escaped.
Three police officers struggled with Ullah and stopped him from setting off the device again.
The 27-year-old was stripped naked at the scene by armed police who found that the pipe bomb-style device with a battery was attached to his chest with zip ties.
New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at the scene, described the attack as “one of our worst nightmares” and said the device was at “amateur-level”.
He explained that the explosive in the pipe ignited, but the pipe itself did not explode.
Mr Cuomo said: “He wound up hurting himself and several others in the vicinity.”
He said Ullah had apparently used the internet to obtain information on how to make a bomb.
He added: “The reality is we are a target by many who would like to make a statement against democracy, against freedom. We have the Statue of Liberty in our harbour.”
There were conflicting reports about the motive of Ullah, a Muslim and former cab driver, who now works as an electrician.
The New York Daily News said he was angry after Donald Trump last week controversially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. But the New York Post said that the attack was revenge for bombings in Ullah’s home country of Bangladesh, although the US is not carrying out drone strikes there.
The attack sent chills through the city. The last terrorist incident was in October when Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov, 29, killed eight people in his truck.
A video circulating on social media showed the dramatic moment of the explosion with a flash from Ullah’s back inside the tunnel.
The explosion sent dust and smoke into the air and Ullah can be seen lying on the floor as people run away. Photos moments later showed him curled up with his face down and his chest blackened.
Police commissioner James O’Neill said Ullah “was wearing an improvised low-tech explosive device attached to his body”. He “intentionally detonated that device” and suffered burns and other wounds for which he is being treated in hospital.
Ullah has been in the US for several years after arriving on a visa. He was recently granted a green card allowing him permanent residency.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the attempted terrorist attack was “incredibly unsettling”.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that President Trump had been briefed on the explosion.
Unlike previous terrorism incidents Mr Trump did not immediately tweet about it but complained about media coverage of him.
Senator Lindsey Graham said the suspect appeared to have a “soldier of the Caliphate mentality”.
New York remains a target for terrorists after the September 11, 2001 attacks and since then around 26 plots have been foiled, officials said.