New York and New Jersey Bombings
October 5, 2016
5 counts of attempted murder is more than enough to stir up two cities and its civilians.
This September 2016 file photo provided by Union County Prosecutor’s Office shows Ahmad Khan Rahami, who is in custody as a suspect in the weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey. Rahami worked as an unarmed night guard for two months in 2011 at an AP administrative technology office in Cranbury, N.J. At the time, he was employed by Summit Security, a private contractor. Rahami remained hospitalized Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, after a shootout the day before with police in New Jersey. (Union County Prosecutor’s Office via AP, File)
After bar owner Harinder Bains noticed a man sleeping in the doorway of his restaurant on September 17, 2016, he thought nothing of it. It seemed like just another intoxicated person, until Bains recognized him as the bombing suspect from New York City, New York, and Seaside Park, New Jersey, who wounded 29 people in the course of a night. Baines called the police and the man was arrested. The man was Ahmad Kahn Rahami, 28. Rahami, after being convicted for the bombings, was charged with five counts of attempted murder, second-degree unlawful possession of weapon, and second-degree possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to CNN.
Many questions have risen as this occurrence played out. Is Rahami part of an extremist group? What was the motive? Did Rahami have help?
The NY Times said Rahami was motivated by the Islamic extremists, as written in his notebook. According to the NY Times, “Mr. Rahami writes of “killing the kuffar,” or unbelievers, and praises terrorist figures, including Anwar al-Awlaki, once Al Qaeda’s leading propagandist.” No extremist group has taken responsibility for Rahami’s actions.
A source on CNN said Rahami was carrying a duffel bag with him which included an explosive in it. Two men found the bag and removed the explosive from it, then left the vicinity and took the bag with them. The FBI has said they are attempting to locate these individuals for questioning regarding their connection to the bombings.
Rahami’s bail is set to $5.2 million
When the police arrived on the scene, Rahami’s father revealed his concerns of Ahmad’s possible involvement in terrorism, The NY Times said.
“Two years ago I go to the F.B.I. because my son was doing really bad, O.K.?” Rahami’s father said. “But they check almost two months, they say, ‘He’s O.K., he’s clean, he’s not a terrorist.’ I say O.K. Now they say he is a terrorist. I say O.K,” he said according to The NY Times.
ABC news said that Rahami’s father and mother are detained in Afghanistan.
Rahami’s father spoke to ABC news, saying, “If you’re Muslim, you respect your father. If you’re Muslim, you respect religion. If you’re Muslim, you respect your country.”
