'Terrorist' explosion in Manhattan injures 4; suspect arrested
By
Ed Adamczyk and Danielle Haynes
An NYPD Port Authority Police Counter-Terrorism Unit officer guards the 8th Avenue entrance that is still closed to the public. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
An NYPD Port Authority Police Counter-Terrorism Unit officer guards the 8th Avenue entrance that is still closed to the public after a pipe bomb exploded in The Port Authority Bus terminal in the morning in New York City on Monday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
An NYPD Port Authority Police Counter-Terrorism Unit officer guards an area closed to the public Monday after a pipe bomb exploded in The Port Authority Bus terminal. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
NYPD vehicles are seen outside the entrance to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan after a pipe bomb exploded Monday morning. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Commuters are surrounded by police officers and National Guard troops after a pipe bomb exploded in the Port Authority Bus terminal in Manhattan Monday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Commuters are surrounded by police officers and National Guard troops after a pipe bomb exploded in the Port Authority Bus terminal in Manhattan Monday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Port Authority Police Counter-Terrorism Unit officers and National Guard troops block the entrance of an area closed to the public Monday after a pipe bomb exploded in The Port Authority Bus terminal. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
NYPD Port Authority Police Counter-Terrorism Unit officers and National Guard men in uniform block the entrance of an area still closed to the public. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
NYPD Port Authority Police Counter-Terrorism Unit Officer looks after travelers. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
An NYPD Police Officer remains on site and looks after commuters and travelers. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The 42nd Street subway entrance remains closed to the public. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- An explosion in a subway near New York City's Port Authority during the Monday morning commute was an attempted "terrorist attack," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The explosion occurred just after 7 a.m. in the area of 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue in midtown Manhattan.
New York City police said a man with "wires coming out of him" was arrested in the subway. Police later said a pipe bomb is suspected, adding that the man appeared to be wearing a low-level explosive under his clothes. It detonated as he walked through a tunnel beneath the Port Authority building.
New York City Police Department Commissioner James O'Neillidentified the suspect as Akayed Ullah. The 27-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant lived in Brooklyn and was inspired by the Islamic State, he said.
"Preliminary investigation at the scene indicates this individual was wearing an improvised low-tech explosive device attached to his body," O'Neill said. "He intentionally detonated that device."
Authorities said Ullah was injured in the explosion and was hospitalized.
The Fire Department of New York said four bystanders were injured, but none seriously.
Subways in the area were evacuated and the trains were forced to bypass the nearby Times Square station.
De Blasio called the incident "a terrorist attack," but said there are no other known threats against the city. He added that security in Manhattan will be enhanced on Monday.
