3 injured, suspect in custody after explosion in New York subway system near Midtown Manhattan

An explosion was reported in the subway near Port Authority in New York City.
(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The New York Police Department reported Monday morning that there was an explosion in the subway station below the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan during the morning commute. Law enforcement officials who spoke with The Associated Press say the explosion, which occurred around 7:20 a.m. ET, was caused by the detonation of "a pipe bomb strapped to a man."

NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said the suspect, Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old male, is in custody. Ullah was wearing "an improvised, low-tech explosive device attached to his body," O'Neill said. "He intentionally detonated that device." Four people were injured in the blast, including Ullah. None of the injuries are life-threatening.

The NYPD responded by evacuating the A, C, and E subway lines and shutting down trains traveling through the nearby transportation hub at Times Square. By 9:50 a.m. ET Monday morning, the system was largely back up and running, though most trains are still bypassing the affected area.

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"This was an attempted terrorist attack," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The Port Authority bus station sees 250,000 travelers and commuters pass through it every day, the New York Daily News reports. Jeva Lange

This is a breaking news story and has been updated throughout.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.