New York police arrested a man allegedly inspired by Isis after an explosion near Times Square sent commuters fleeing during morning rush hour today.
Akayed Ullah, 27, is accused of setting off a “low-tech device” strapped to his body in a subway passageway just before 7:30am local time, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters at a news conference.
The explosion caused chaos underground and on the streets of midtown Manhattan, although only four people were reported injured - including the suspect. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, according to police and firefighters.
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The suspect had “wires and some kind of improvised device” on his body, according to NBC News. The New York Post said the “suicide bomber” was armed with a pipe bomb and battery pack, and that he was an “Isis-inspired” Bangladeshi national who lives in Brooklyn.
Ullah apparently injured his abdomen and hands in the blast, authorities said. Police refused to comment on whether he said anything before detonating the bomb.
NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said that Ullah made statements about Isis but that it wasn't clear if he was claiming a connection to the terrorist group.
Ullah was taken to New York’s Bellevue Hospital.
Police said the blast occurred near the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue - a major transport hub for commuters travelling to and from the city.
Witness Francisco Ramirez told CNN that he heard two explosions, even though he was wearing headphones, as he was getting off a bus about 7:45am.
“It was two distinct explosions seconds from each other,” he said. “As I was making my way toward the outside, I kept getting shoved by cops and there were cops at every entrance blocking and there was police and Swat [teams] everywhere.”
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force responded and President Trump was briefed on the situation, says NBC News.
There were no immediate reports of any other arrests.
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