AFGHAN NATIVE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING GUNFIGHT …
Police in New Jersey have arrested Ahmad Khan Rahami in connection with bombings in Elizabeth, New Jersey and New York City.
Rahami, 28, was arrested following a shootout in Linden, New Jersey. The gunfight that led to arrest wounded at least one police officer as well as the suspect, who was struck in the shoulder.
Born in Afghanistan, The New York Times is describing Rahami as a “naturalized citizen.” According to reports, he was “radicalized” after a recent trip to his homeland – however he was not known to local police as being a terrorist threat nor was he on any government watch lists.
Rahami was spotted on surveillance video planting a pressure cooker bomb that detonated on 23rd Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan – injuring 29 people. He was also reportedly spotted on surveillance video planting another bomb a few blocks away.
Thankfully, that device failed to detonate.
A third explosion took place earlier Saturday morning near Seaside Park, New Jersey shortly before thousands of runners were scheduled to participate in a U.S. Marine Corps race.
No one was injured in that blast …
Numerous other pipe bombs were also discovered – including one that was accidentally detonated by police as they attempted to disarm it.
Earlier this week, liberal New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo claimed the weekend bombings did not appear to be linked to international terrorism. Of course Cuomo now appears to be thinking better of it – saying “the evidence might suggest a foreign connection.”
You don’t say …
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also rushed to downplay the significance of the attacks, saying there was “no indication that there’s a (terrorist) cell operating” in New York.
And of course we will hold our breath while we wait for U.S. president Barack Obama to use the term “radical Islamic terrorism.”
Wasting little time in using that precise term? The campaign of GOP presidential nominee (and New York native) Donald Trump.
“Last weekend’s attacks, which are just the latest to be carried out on U.S. soil on President Obama’s watch, should be a wakeup call for every American,” Trump’s campaign said in a statement. “It is highly disturbing and entirely unacceptable that 858 immigrants from dangerous countries have slipped into our country and been granted full U.S. citizenship because of the failed policies supported by President Obama and Hillary Clinton.”
Trump also blasted Clinton for supporting expanded refugee resettlements.
“Clinton must explain her reckless support for a 550 percent increase in Syrian refugees and her push for an all-out open border policy, which will put even more Americans at risk,” Trump’s campaign stated. “The threat from radical Islamic terrorism has only grown under Obama and Clinton, and ISIS has greatly expanded the number of countries where it is fully operational.”
UPDATE: Wow … Clinton is blaming Trump for the attacks!
UPDATE II: More individuals sought for questioning …
(Banner image via @BuffingActions)