A pipe bomb detonated in New York City’s Port Authority bus terminal Monday in what is being described as an ISIS-inspired attack.
The suspect, Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old male from Bangladesh, was taken into custody after reportedly being injured by the blast. The man has reportedly been in the U.S. for seven years and lived in the Brooklyn area.
The New York Police Department tweeted that numerous subways lines were being evacuated as authorities responded to the scene.
The NYPD is responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at 42nd Street and 8th Ave, #Manhattan. The A, C and E line are being evacuated at this time. Info is preliminary, more when available. pic.twitter.com/7vpNT97iLC
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 11, 2017
During a press conference, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that three other people sustained minor injuries at the time of the bombing.
Speaking with MSNBC, former NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton said sources claimed Ullah carried out the act in the name of ISIS.
When asked if the suspect had referred to ISIS, NYC Police Commissioner James O’Neill told reporters that comments were made but failed to expand.
CBS News reported that Ullah was inspired by the terror group online but did not have any actual connections to the group.
Surveillance video from inside the terminal shows the moment the suspect’s pipe bomb detonated. Authorities are attempting to determine if the “improvised low-tech explosive device” exploded prematurely.
BREAKING VIDEO: MOMENT OF EXPLOSION AT TIMES SQUARE SUBWAY STATION pic.twitter.com/bb6nEPwfqD
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 11, 2017
A photo of the suspect in custody circulating on social media was confirmed to be legitimate. Authorities said Ullah was also found with a second device.
BREAKING PHOTO: The suspect in police custody following theexplosion at Port Authority Bus Terminal. pic.twitter.com/IwM98CSBRP
— New York City Alerts (@NYCityAlerts) December 11, 2017
Citing sources, the New York Post has said that the suspect was seen with “wires attached to him.”
“The suspected bomber – who had wires attached to him – was armed with a pipe bomb and a battery pack…” the Post said. “He was taken into custody after the device partially detonated inside the passageway to the N, Q and R trains…”
The New York Times also reported that the suspect had been stripped naked by police due to “an explosive device strapped to his person.”
“The suspect was alone and the device went off prematurely,” the Times reported.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the attack.
.@POTUS has been briefed on the explosion in New York City
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 11, 2017
This story is developing and will be updated as information becomes available.
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