Ahmad Khan Rahami: Blood-soaked journal shows New York bombing suspect was inspired by Isis

Journal cites call to 'attack the kuffar [disbelievers] in their backyard'

A notebook recovered in the arrest of Ahmad Khan Rahami. (House Homeland Security Committee)

The man suspected of attempting a series of terror attacks in the US claimed he was inspired by Isis in a blood-soaked journal discovered after he was shot by police.

Ahmad Khan Rahami is accused of detonating a bomb that injured more than 30 people in New York, as well as another device targeting a military charity run in New Jersey and two others that did not explode as planned.

In a federal charge sheet filed on Tuesday, authorities revealed the existence of the journal and said it contained praise for Nidal Hasan, who massacred 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas, “brother Osama bin Laden” and Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-Yemeni al-Qaeda recruiter killed in a US drone strike in 2011.

Officials made no mention of the so-called Islamic State in the indictment, but photos of the journal have revealed direct references to the terror group’s chief propagandist and second-in-command, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani.

It reads: “I looked for guidance an Alhumdulilah [praise God], guidance came Sheikh Anwar [al-Awlaki], Brother Adnani/Dawla.

“Said it clearly attack the kuffar [disbelievers] in their backyard.”

Adnani, the head of Isis’ feared “Emni” security service and its propaganda wing, was killed in a US air strike in the Syria last month.

He was known for speeches calling on supporters to launch terror attacks around the world, which have been directly cited by several jihadists who carried out atrocities in Europe and the San Bernardino massacre in California.

Rahami’s journal appears to specifically refer to Adnani’s last announcement, released in May, which called for “soldiers of the caliphate” who could not travel to Isis territories to attack civilians “day and night” wherever, and however, they could.

The ramblings also refer to two names used by Isis for areas it controls in Iraq and Syria – “Dawla” and “Sham”.

Despite repeated allusions to the group, there was no mention of Isis in a charge sheet released by prosecutors earlier this week. The reason for the omission was unclear.

Official documents include several other passages from the journal, which ended with the message: “Inshallah [God willing] the sounds of the bombs will be heard in your streets. Gunshots to your police. Death to your oppression.”

It also saw Rahami announce his wish for “martyrdom” in the name of jihad.

He was shot by police after a shootout on Monday in Linden, New Jersey, where he was taken into custody following a two-day manhunt.

Rahami is accused of using a mobile phone to detonate a pipe bomb planted along the route of a charity run by US Marines in Seaside Park on Saturday.

The event was due to begin around 35 minutes before the attack but was delayed and then cancelled after the blasts, where only one of three connected pipe bombs exploded after being detonated using a mobile phone.

Around 11 hours later, a pressure cooker bomb in New York’s 23rd Street exploded at around 8.30pm local time, injuring 31 people including a British citizen and causing millions of pounds of damage in a 650ft radius.

Investigators were led to another device a few blocks north, on 27th Street and later found explosives accidentally set off by a bomb disposal robot at Elizabeth railway station in New Jersey.

Rahami has been charged with terrorism, the use of a weapon of mass destruction, bombing, attempted murder of police officers, destruction of property and use of a destructive device.

The case has seen criticism directed at the FBI, who investigated Rahami after his father raised concerns two years ago but took no further action.

His wife, thought to be a Pakistani national, is to be returned to the US after presenting herself at the American Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.