2017 New York City Subway bombing

On December 11, 2017, a pipe bomb partially detonated in a corridor between the Times Square–42nd Street and 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal subway stations adjoining the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, injuring four people including the bomber. Mayor Bill de Blasio described the incident as "an attempted terrorist attack".[2] The bomber was identified by police as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah, a Salafi Muslim immigrant from Bangladesh; he was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to life in prison in 2021.[3][4]

2017 New York City Subway bombing
Part of Terrorism in the United States and the reaction to Gaza-Israel conflict[1]
The passageway near where the bomb detonated, pictured in 2014
LocationCorridor between the Times Square–42nd Street and 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal stations, New York City, United States
Coordinates40.75634°N 73.98983°W / 40.75634; -73.98983
DateDecember 11, 2017 (2017-12-11)
Attack type
Attempted suicide bombing with (incompletely detonated) pipe bomb
Deaths0
Injured4 (including the perpetrator)
PerpetratorAkayed Ullah
Motive
  • Belief in terrorism act support
  • Support for ISIS
VerdictLife imprisonment; no eligibility for parole
ChargesPossessing a criminal weapon
Making terrorist threats

Bombing

At approximately 7:20 a.m., during morning rush hour, a pipe bomb partially detonated in an underground corridor connecting the New York City Subway's Times Square–42nd Street and 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal stations, between the Seventh and Eighth Avenue subway lines. There were four non-life-threatening injuries.[5]

The suspected bomber was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment.[6][7] According to the city's fire department commissioner, the suspect suffered burns to his hands and torso while three bystanders had "ringing ears and headaches".[8][9] The bombing severely disrupted subway service for several hours, leading to lower-than-normal ridership that day.[10]

Perpetrator
Akayed Ullah

After the incident, the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) arrested a "would-be suicide bomber" armed with a pipe bomb (which was filled with sugar and Christmas tree lights[11]) and a battery pack. The suspect was identified as 27-year-old Brooklyn resident Akayed Ullah.[2][12]

Ullah is a permanent U.S. resident.[13] His uncle won a diversity visa lottery which enabled him to bring Ullah to the United States under the family reunification provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.[14][15][16] He was a licensed cab driver from March 2012 to March 2015.[17]

One year after he arrived in the U.S., his father died. He subsequently converted to Salafism and pressured his family to pray regularly and adopt conservative religious beliefs.[3] Ullah's wife and child live in Bangladesh,[18] where he kept books by Muhammad Jasimuddin Rahmani, the spiritual leader of extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team which is linked to the terror group al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent.[18][19] Ullah had at times frequented the Masjid Nur Al Islam, a mosque in Kensington, Brooklyn, which was placed on the NYPD Intelligence Division's "Mosques of Interest" list in 2004. Four members of the mosque are also on the NYPD's "Most Dangerous" list.[20] He wrote handwritten notes on his passport, including "O AMERICA, DIE IN YOUR RAGE."[21] He had posted a warning on Facebook, "Trump you failed to protect your nation", before the attack.[22][23][24] Prosecutors allege he told police after the blast "I did it for the Islamic State."[21]

After being questioned, Ullah reportedly said he was "following ISIS on the internet and reading Inspire magazine".[25] Through online instructions, he learned how to make the explosive device.[24] A law enforcement source told CNN that Ullah said he carried out the attack in response to recent Israeli actions in Gaza over Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.[1][26][27]

The Associated Press, however, reported law enforcement sources told them he was retaliating against U.S. military aggression.[28] Authorities believed he also sought reprisal for American air attacks on Muslims in Syria and elsewhere.[17][24][29] According to statements by law enforcement officials, reported in The New York Times, he chose the Times Square area because of its Christmas-themed advertising.[7] During court proceedings, Ullah denied being an ISIS sympathizer, saying he "was angry with Donald Trump because he said he will bomb the Middle East and protect his nation".[30]

Ullah was charged with possessing a criminal weapon, making terroristic threats and supporting an act of terrorism.[31] In early November 2018, he was found guilty on all counts.[30] He was scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2019.[32] His sentencing was delayed to April 22, 2021, when he was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years.[3][4]

Reaction

President Donald Trump said, "There have now been two terrorist attacks in New York City in recent weeks carried out by foreign nationals here on green cards. The first attacker came through the visa lottery, the second came through chain migration. We’re going to end both of them."[21][33][34] He called for the end of the Diversity Immigrant Visa and chain migration after this attack, and had made a similar statement following the October 31, 2017, truck attack in Lower Manhattan.[35]

The Bangladeshi consulate in New York City condemned the attack and reiterated the Bangladeshi government policy of zero tolerance against terrorism.[36] Bangladeshi-Americans in New York City denounced the attack, as well as President Trump's suggestion to end chain migration.[37] Bangladesh's Counterterrorism Police stated that they did not find a link between Ullah and domestic terrorist groups in Bangladesh. The counterterrorism police also said that they had placed his family members under surveillance after the attack.[38]

See also

References
  1. Sanchez, Ray; Sterling, Joe (December 12, 2017). "Akayed Ullah: What we know about the Manhattan explosion suspect". CNN. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  2. Chappell, Bill (December 11, 2017). "1 Suspect In Custody After Explosion At Subway Station In Midtown Manhattan". NPR. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  3. "Akayed started changing after his father's death in US". Dhaka Tribune.
  4. "Akayed Ullah: Times Square subway pipe bomber jailed for life". BBC News. April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  5. "Four Injured, Including Attacker in NYC Subway Bombing". msn.com.
  6. Celona, Larry (December 11, 2017). "Suspected bomber in custody after explosion at Port Authority". New York Post. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  7. Nir, Sarah Maslin; Rashbaum, William (December 11, 2017). "Pipe Bomb Explodes in New York Subway Walkway". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  8. "Manhattan subway explosion 'was attempted terrorist attack', says mayor". The Guardian. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  9. "Man in custody after 'attempted terrorist attack' in N.Y. subway was inspired by ISIS, officials say". The Washington Post. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. "Transit and Bus Committee Meeting February 2018" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 20, 2018. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  11. Port Authority bomb was made of Christmas lights, sugar and a battery: cops, New York Post, December 11, 2017
  12. Wagner, Meg; Wills, Amanda (December 11, 2017). "New York City explosion: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  13. Reilly, Katie. "What We Know About the New York Bomb Attack Suspect". Time. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  14. Robbins, Liz (December 12, 2017). "Terror Suspects Become Ammunition in War Over Immigration". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  15. Hurt, Charles (December 12, 2017). "The Bangladeshi would-be bomber — a walking ad for Trump's immigration policies". Washington Times. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  16. "Official: Akayed Ullah came to US on a visa sponsored by his uncle". Dhaka Tribune. December 13, 2017.
  17. Shawn Cohen; Max Jaeger; Reuven Fenton; Natalie Musumeci. "Suicide bombing suspect was a cab driver bent on revenge: cops". NY Post. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  18. "Bangladesh police say NY bomber read extremist's books". Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  19. "'New York bomber read extremist's books, urged wife to do so'". The Times of India.
  20. Feuer, Alan (December 12, 2017). "For Bombing Suspect, a Life Split Between Bangladesh and Brooklyn". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  21. "U.S. slaps terror charges on accused Times Square bomber". Reuters. December 13, 2017.
  22. "New York bombing suspect Akayed Ullah warned Trump on Facebook". BBC News. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  23. "Suspect's family claims that they don't know he was being radicalized". CNN. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  24. Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst and Tracy Connor (December 11, 2017). "NYC blast suspect Akayed Ullah aimed to avenge Muslim deaths, source says". NBC News. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  25. Reuven Blau (December 11, 2017). "Suspect in Port Authority bombing carried out bungled attack in name of ISIS". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  26. "New York City Bomber Tells Police He Carried Out Attack Due to Israeli Actions in Gaza, Report Says". Haaretz. AP. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  27. McLaughlin, Eliott (December 11, 2017). "New York explosion: Man detonates pipe bomb in 'attempted terrorist attack,' officials say". CNN. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  28. "The Latest: Suspect's family heartbroken, saddened by attack". AP News. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  29. Molly Olmstead. "NYC Bombing Suspect Charged with Supporting Act of Terrorism". Slate. Retrieved December 12, 2017. Authorities have also revealed Ullah said he was angry over U.S. bombings in ISIS territory and detonated the bomb to avenge Muslims killed around the world
  30. Brown, Stephen Rex (November 6, 2018). "Port Authority Bus Terminal bomber Akayed Ullah found guilty, says he did it because he was 'angry' at Trump". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  31. Olmstead, Molly (December 12, 2017). "NYC Bombing Suspect Charged With Supporting Act of Terrorism". slate.com.
  32. "Akayed Ullah Convicted for Detonation of a Bomb in New York City". November 6, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  33. "After NYC subway bombing, Trump slams 'chain migration'". The Times of India. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  34. R. Darren Price. "President Trump on Port Authority Bombing: 'End Chain Migration'". WNBC - NBC 4 NYC. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  35. "Trump renews calls to end visa lottery, chain migration after New York attack". The Economic Times. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  36. "Bangladesh strongly condemns New York blast". The Daily Star. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  37. "Bangladeshis worry they'll pay price for NYC subway bomb". ABC News. Associated Press. December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  38. "Accused NY bomber's family says attack 'our worst nightmare'". The Daily Star. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
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