Ahmad Khan Rahami has been arrested after being “directly linked” to explosions in New York and New Jersey over the weekend, according to FBI Special Agent William Sweeney.
Currently, Rahami is in surgery after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey (roughly 20 miles west of New York), according to Union County acting prosecutor Grace Park. Two officers were shot in the shootout, according to Park, but both have non-serious injuries.
According to Park, Rahami was found outside a local bar.
According to Sweeney, a traffic stop in New York led to searches and interviews in Elizabeth, New Jersey (roughly 15 miles west of New York). Rahami’s last known address was in Elizabeth, and an explosives-laden backpack was found there late Sunday.
Rahami is believed to be linked to that backpack, and bombings Saturday in Seaside Park, New Jersey and in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
“We have every reason to believe this was an act of terror,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday.
The Bombings
At least 29 people are injured after an “intentional” explosion struck New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood Saturday night, shattering windows and forcing the closure of several city blocks.
The city’s fire commissioner Daniel Nigro said of those hurt, 24 had been taken to hospital, including one person he described as seriously injured. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
The explosion was reported around 8:30 p.m. on West 23rd Street near 6th and 7th Avenues, according to the FDNY. A secondary device was located on 27th Street between Avenue of the Americas and 7th Avenue, according to the NYPD’s scanner.
Officials from the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives are responding, according to the bureau. The Department of Homeland Security also brought officials in to assist, according to New York City Councilman Corey Johnson.
Facebook activated their Safety Check feature in response to the explosion.
In Seaside Park, a garbage can exploded near the starting line of a Marine Corps charity run Saturday afternoon. Nobody was injured, partially thanks to the race’s late start time.