Ahmad Khan Rahami allegedly conducted dry run of bombings, bought equipment online

On Tuesday, U.S. prosecutors charged Ahmad Khan Rahami, the 28-year-old New Jersey man suspected of being behind bombings in New York and New Jersey on Saturday, with four counts, including use of weapons of mass destruction and bombing a place of public use.

The criminal complaint says Rahami conducted a dry run of the bombings and was inspired by al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki, writing in a journal that he wanted to "kill" unbelievers, The New York Times reports. The notebook, found on Rahami after he was captured Monday, also reportedly included entries referencing jihad, pipe bombs, pressure cookers, and shooting police officers. The complaint says Rahami purchased equipment for the bombings from eBay, and filmed himself igniting an explosive device in the backyard of his home.

Rahami was injured during a shootout with police on Monday, and remains in the hospital as he recovers from surgery. He has already been charged in New Jersey with five counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up