Ahmad Khan Rahami arrested: New York bombing suspect wounded after shootout with police in New Jersey

Suspect was wounded after being spotted asleep in a doorway in the town of Linden, according to witnesses

Andrew Buncombe
Linden, New Jersey
Monday 19 September 2016 16:20 BST
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New York bombing suspect Rahami loaded into ambulance after taken into custody

Ahmad Khan Rahami, the suspect wanted in connection with the Manhattan bombing, has been arrested in Linden, New Jersey, according to police sources.

Witnesses described seeing a man shooting at police cars before he was wounded and taken to hospital.

Officers also said they were investigating a suspicious package found nearby.

Earlier in the day, the FBI identified Rahami as the suspect in Saturday's bombing that wounded 29 people.

He was born in Afghanistan but became a naturalised American, living in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where his family complained they were being persecuted for being Muslim.

Stunned residents in the suburban town of Linden said they had been alerted by sirens and then the sound of shooting.

Vince Uvari, 70, who lived two streets away, said: "I heard the shots and I saw the police. I knew it was someting.

"I thought it was something to do with this because he lived in Elizabeth."

Ahmad Khan Rahami: Everything we know about New York bombing suspect

John Michelli, 68, who owns an electrical business in the area, said he had followed he news all weekend and suspected the various incidents involving explosive devices were linked.

"I think there is more to come. I am sure this is not the end of it, " he said.

"But I say go Trump. That is the only chance we have. What we are doing now is not working."

A postman on his rounds said he heard 12-15 gunshots in all. He told CNN he thought the suspect was asleep in a doorway on the street when he was recognised by officers.

Police said they believed Rahami, 28, was linked to the bomb explosion in Chelsea after he was spotted on surveillance video nearby.

His arrest came shortly after authorities sent an alert to milions of people in the New York area warning them he was "armed and dangerous".

Authorities initially said there was no link to foreign terror organisations but changed their message on Monday morning after five pipebombs were also discovered at a railway station in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, said: "Today's information suggests it may be foreign related, but we'll see where it goes."

The bombing led to heightened security measures in New Jersey and in New York city, just as world leaders began arriving for the United Nations General Assembly.

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