New York, December 11 (PTI/BDNews24): An ISIS-inspired Bangladeshi- origin man, identified as Akayed Ullah from Chittagong, wearing a homemade device, on Monday triggered a blast at a metro station in New York City during rush hours, injuring four persons and causing chaos in one of the busiest commuter hubs in the metropolis.
The 27-year-old suspected bomber — who had wires attached to him — was armed with a pipe bomb and a battery pack, sources told New York Post, according to which he was taken into custody after the device partially detonated.
Former New York Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton told MSNBC that the man was inspired by the IS and originally came from Bangladesh. He had no criminal record in Bangladesh
Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque told Reuters after the attack on Monday that Akayed last visited his home country in September.
The IGP added the information was based on his passport number.
The man was from the southeastern district of Chittagong, Hoque said. He last came to the country on Sept 8.
Akayed, who had a homemade bomb strapped to his body, set off an explosion at a New York commuter hub during rush hour, injuring himself and three others in what New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called an attempted terrorist attack.
He had burns and lacerations while three other people, including a police officer, had minor injuries.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the device exploded in the New York City subway in an “attempted terrorist attack“.
“A total of 4 injuries reported at the scene of an explosion at Port Authority,” the New York Police Department said, adding that all injuries are non-life-threatening.
The suspect is reported to have sustained minor injury.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the New York explosion, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.
Earlier, the New York Police Department (NYPD) tweeted that it was responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at 42nd Street and 8th Ave, Manhattan.
The place is New York Port Authority, a busy bus terminal. It also has metro stations.
“The A, C and E line are being evacuated at this time,” the NYPD had said, adding that the information is preliminary.
The New York Fire Department received call around 7.19 am.
“I was exiting the Port Authority and the National Guard was running towards something shouting ‘Go, Go, Go’,” commuter Keith Woodfin tweeted, according to New York Daily News.
Designer Chelsea LaSalle tweeted that she was “stuck in a running stampede at port authority bus terminal due to bomb scare. cops EVERYWHERE.”
(The featured image at the top is that of the New York street after the blast)
