An intense manhunt and a bloody shootout on a New Jersey street ended Monday with the arrest of a suspect, an Afghan American, in the bomb blast that wounded 29 people Saturday in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
Authorities said Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, a U.S. citizen of Afghan origin, and two police officers were wounded in the gunfight in the city of Linden. The arrest came hours after authorities found more explosives at a New Jersey train station, raided an apartment nearby, issued a wanted poster and began to link the blast with other bombs.
Rahami was found sleeping in the doorway of a bar, Mayor Derek Armstead said. Rahami shot the responding officer – who was wearing a protective vest — in the abdomen, Armstead said.
CCTV Image of suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami Photo Credit: By Steve Herman / VOA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
We have reason to believe this was an act of terror,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said, adding “There is no other individual we are looking for right now.”
An FBI wanted poster, issued hours before the arrest, warned that Rahami “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
Rahami’s last known address was listed in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and federal authorities conducted a raid there Monday at an apartment above a fried chicken restaurant operated by Rahami’s father.
According to Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage a traffic stop conducted by FBI agents in New York City led to the search warrant in Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, according to a federal law enforcement officails the search of Rahami’s home did not immediately reveal evidence that explosives had been assembled there.
