BY SEAN EGAN | In the aftermath of any seismic event, it can be hard to keep up with all of the crucial information. For that reason, we’ve put together this guide to facts you should know, as well as useful community resources — to be updated periodically, as the situation develops.
COMMUNITY INFO & RESOURCES | The FBI investigation and evidence collection near the blast site has concluded. Early on the evening of Mon., Sept. 19, W. 23rd St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.) was reopened to vehicular traffic and pedestrians. Sixth Ave. has also been reopened.
All E, F, and 1 trains have resumed normal service and are stopping at the 23rd St. and 28th St. stations. The previously closed 23rd St. PATH train station has also reopened.
Normal service has also resumed for bus lines affected by the closure, including the M23 bus line.
THE SUSPECT | Ahmad Khan Rahami, the prime suspect in connection to Sat., Sept. 17’s W. 23rd St. bombing, has been charged on seven counts: Five for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, a count of unlawful possession of a weapon, and a count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.
Authorities believe that Rahami is the main perpetrator of the Chelsea bombing, as well as 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, he was caught on security cameras in the W. 23rd St. area, as well as in the W. 27th St. area (where a pressure cooker bomb was discovered), and evidence gathered at the scene linked him to the bomb.
Authorities apprehended Rahami around 11:30 a.m. on Mon., Sept. 19. He was discovered by a bar owner sleeping in the doorway of his establishment in Linden, New Jersey. 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 an ambulance/stretcher.
Rahami is a 28-year-old US citizen of Afghan descent (and born in Afghanistan), whose last known address was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where his family owns a restaurant. Since 2011, Rahami has made frequent and extended trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
As reported by our colleagues at BrooklynDaily.com, the FBI took five individuals into custody for questioning on the evening of Sun., Sept. 18. They were stopped coming over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Staten Island in a vehicle believed to belong to Rahami’s family; it is believed they were headed to the airport.
THE EXPLOSION | The explosion occurred on the evening of Sat., Sept. 17 around 8:30 p.m., on W. 23rd St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.).
The blast, which shook nearby buildings and shattered windows, injured 29 people, though none of these injuries were life-threatening. All those admitted to the hospital in the wake of the blast were released by Sun., Sept. 18.
The origin of the explosion is believed to be from a dumpster, near the King David Gallery (131 W. 23rd St.) and Selis Manor (135 W. 23rd St.), an affordable housing center for the blind and visually impaired.
In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, another bomb — constructed out of a pressure cooker, wires, and a cellphone — was discovered four blocks away on W. 27th St., though this device did not detonate.
Two other bomb incidents are believed to be related to the Chelsea explosion:
First, a bomb exploded in Seaside Park, NJ at around 9:30 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 17. It was placed in a garbage can near the starting line of a 5K run for the Marine Corps. Luckily, there were no injuries, as the race was delayed, and thus no one was waiting at the starting line when the bomb was timed to detonate.
Later, at 9:30 p.m. on the evening of Sun., Sept. 18, a backpack containing five similarly constructed pipe bombs was found in a trash can at an NJ Transit station in Elizabeth, NJ. A bomb-diffusing robot accidentally detonated one while attempting to disable it.
RESPONSE FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS | On Mon., Sept. 19, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Assistant Director of the FBI William Sweeney, and Police Commissioner James O’Neill held a briefing. “I have no indication that a cell is operating in the area or in the city, [but] the investigation is ongoing,” said Sweeney. “Based on the information we have now, we have every reason to believe this was an act of terror,” said de Blasio, and asked New Yorkers to remain vigilant.
This response stands in contrast to de Blasio’s statements on Sun., Sept. 18, when he also surveyed the explosion scene with authorities and Governor Andrew Cuomo. De Blasio called the incident “an intentional act,” though he would not ascribe any larger political motivation to the explosion at the time. Cuomo commented that, while the motivations were unknown, “It’s terrorism when a bomb explodes in New York City.”
President Obama also held a press conference regarding the incidents in Chelsea and New Jersey on Monday, where he commended the first responders and said, “The investigation is moving rapidly,” and that New York and New Jersey would have “all federal support” with the investigation. He also reiterated, “If you see something suspicious, then you need to say something.”
District 3 City Councilmember Corey Johnson, whose district includes Chelsea, told Chelsea Now, “The people of Chelsea will not be cowed by acts of violence and intimidation. When faced with challenges, we come together as a community and emerge even stronger,” in the immediate aftermath. He was also very active on Twitter (@CoreyinNYC), keeping his constituents updated on developments, and highlighting resources available to locals affected.
