New York Post

‘ISIS fan’ on trial in PA tunnel blast

- By KAJA WHITEHOUSE

An alleged ISIS-inspired former cabby will stand trial starting Monday for a plot to blow up a tunnel near the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Despite evidence that includes surveillan­ce video that authoritie­s say shows the moment Akayed Ullah set off the device last December in the crowded tunnel leading to the subway, he has declined pleadeal offers and decided to take his chances at trial.

As jury selection gets underway, Manhattan federal prosecutor­s are armed with footage showing Ullah walking through the 42nd Street tunnel as his backpack explodes.

Everyone around him runs away, and after the dust settles, only he remains, writhing on the floor in pain. Five people were hurt in the blast, which authoritie­s have said went off prematurel­y, but Ullah, 28, was the only one seriously injured.

Law-enforcemen­t officers will testify that they found parts of the detonated device on Ullah’s body at the scene, including a 9-volt battery inside his pants pocket and wires connected to the battery that were running beneath his jacket.

The feds also plan to present statements Ullah made after the blast in which he allegedly admitted building the bomb in his Brooklyn apartment and said, “I did it for the Islamic State.”

His lawyers did not return a request for comment, but have said they want to weed out jurors who might confuse Ullah with Cesar Sayoc, who is accused of sending pipe bombs last week to prominent Democrats.

Ullah is charged with providing material support to ISIS and attempting to use a weapon of mass destructiv­e. He faces a potential life sentence if convicted.

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