Summary: A former cab driver detonated a homemade bomb inside the New York City Port Authority on Monday.
A 27-year-old man detonated a homemade pipe bomb in New York City on Monday, injuring three and causing mass chaos. Authorities said that the bombing was an “attempted terrorist attack,” although it is unclear if the man has ties to ISIS.
“Preliminary investigation at the scene indicates that this male was wearing an improvised low-tech explosive device attached to his body,” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said. “He intentionally detonated that device.”
According to CNN, Akayed Ullah detonated his explosive in a walkway at the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 7:20 am. Ullah was wearing the bomb but survived the blast. Officials stated he is now in custody and being treated at Bellevue Hospital for burns to his hands and abdomen.
Law enforcement said that Ullah is a former taxi driver of Bangladeshi descent and lives in Brooklyn. He came to the United States in 2011 on a F-4 visa. That type of visa is available for those with family in the U.S. who are citizens or permanent residents.
Police officials said that he attached the pipe bomb to his body with Velcro and zip ties. They told CNN that he had made the bomb at work, although it was unclear where that was. ABC News reported that the bomb was created in his apartment. Both outlets state that the investigation is still pending.
“Anyone can go on the Internet and download garbage and vileness on how to put together an amateur-level explosive device, and that is the reality that we live with,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the incident appeared to be an “attempted terrorist attack.” A federal official said that the explosion “could have been worse” but it is speculated that something malfunctioned.
The area was evacuated following the blast, and bystanders said that the scene became chaotic.
“From what I saw it sounded like it came from the subway, but I’m just guessing,” witness Francisco Ramirez said to CNN. “It was two distinct explosions seconds from each other. As I was making my way toward the outside, I kept getting shoved by cops and there were cops at every entrance blocking and there was police and SWAT everywhere. It was scary. It was just a lot of chaos but I didn’t see any injuries.”
Authorities are looking for Ullah’s brother who reportedly attends a school in Brooklyn. ABC News said that Ullah has made statements that show he supports ISIS.
“This was an attempted terrorist attack,” de Blasio said. “Thank God the perpetrator did not achieve his ultimate goals.”