Ahmad Khan Rahami, wanted for questioning regarding the Sept. 17 Chelsea bombing, is now in custody.
BY SEAN EGAN
Ahmad Khan Rahami, the prime suspect in the Sept. 17 Chelsea bombing, was arrested on Monday in New Jersey after a shootout with police.
Rahami has so far been charged on seven counts: Five for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.
The authorities believe that Rahami is the main perpetrator of the bombing on W. 23rd St. as well as the undetonated pressure-cooker bomb found nearby on W. 27th St., plus two other bomb incidents in New Jersey over the weekend, and are trying to determine whether or not he acted alone.
Prior to the Sept. 17 explosion, Rahami was seen on security cameras in the W. 23rd St. area, as well as near W. 27th St., and evidence from the scene linked him to the bomb, according to police.
Authorities apprehended Rahami around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 19. He was discovered sleeping in the doorway of a bar in Linden, New Jersey, by the owner the establishment. Authorities responded to his call, and a foot pursuit and shootout followed. Two officers were hit during the altercation, and Rahami was shot in the right shoulder and leg, and taken out on a stretcher.
Rahami is a 28-year-old, Afghan-born U.S. citizen, whose last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where his family owns a restaurant. Since 2011, Rahami has made frequent trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to police.
