The suspect arrested with respect to the New York City subway blast that occurred earlier this week has told the law enforcement authorities investigating the attack that he had denoted a crude bomb in the station after seeing a holiday display and said that he had done it in the name of ISIS to avenge the killing of Muslims worldwide.
Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh, who works as an electrician stated that he had accessed terrorist propaganda and had made the explosive device based on online instructions, according to officials. He assembled the bomb at his Brooklyn apartment .
At present, there is no evidence of Ullah having direct contact with the ISIS. But he has said that his anger at the U.S. bombing of territories under the ISIS had fuelled his wish to carry out a suicide bombing, officials said.
Self Made Crude Bomb
The bomb was made by Ullah using a pipe, a 9-volt battery, Christmas tree lights and matches, which then he attached to his body with zip ties and Velcro-type fasteners. He had found the pipe at a job site and assembled the remaining materials himself, he informed the investigators.
Keeping in mind issued ISIS threats during Christmas, he had decided to set off the bomb in a busy subway passageway located next to the Port Authority bus terminal after noticing a holiday image there, the law enforcement officials said.
Ullah was treated in Bellevue Hospital for wounds and burns after the blast, which occurred during the early morning commute sparking panic among people in the vicinity and was captured on security videos.
Family Criticizes Police Behaviour During Investigation
As a part of its investigations, police visited the three residences in Brooklyn that are linked to either Ullah or his family.
His family released a statement later that evening through the Council on American-Islamic Relations, stating that they were “heartbroken” by the violence “at our city” and at the allegations against a family member.
The statement also expressed outrage at the behaviour of the law enforcement officials who had kept out “children as small as 4 years old in the cold” and also pulled out a teenager out of high school classes “to interrogate him without a lawyer, without his parents. “
The family further stated that these were not the actions expected of the justice system but expressed confidence that the justice system will find the truth behind the attack .
Legal Immigrant With No Red Flags
Ullah arrived in the United States in 2011 from Bangladesh on an immigrant visa . He is a legal permanent resident possessing a green card.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has confirmed via a spokesperson that Ullah had been a licensed cab driver between 2012 and 2015. He was now working as an electrician.
Law enforcement officials noted that Ullah had not raised red flags before the attack. He has travelled abroad several times but has so far only traffic tickets on his record.
Neighbours of the suspect described Ullah as being religious and “very quiet, not very outgoing.”
