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

US citizen of Afghan descent wanted in connection with bomb that injured 29 people

Adam Withnall
Monday 19 September 2016 12:43 BST
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Ahmad Khan Rahami: Everything we know about New York bombing suspect

Who is he?

The NYPD and FBI have said they are "asking for assistance in locating" a man named Ahmad Khan Rahami in relation to the New York bombing.

He is 28 years old, about 5’ 6” tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds (90kg). He has brown hair, brown eyes, and brown facial hair.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Mr Rahami could be armed and dangerous. "We need to get this guy in right away," De Blasio said on CNN. "My experience is when the FBI zeroes in on someone, they will get them."

Where is he from?

The FBI says Mr Rahami is a US citizen. He was born in Afghanistan, on 23 January, 1988.

Where does he live?

Mr Rahami's last known address was in Elizabeth, a town in New Jersey about 15 miles southwest of Manhattan. That matches an address which was raided by the FBI and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) earlier on Monday.

The suspect's family runs a fried chicken restaurant on the first floor of the home, First American Fried Chicken, which has been a cause of complaints from neighbours since it opened in 2010, the New York Times reports.

According to one neighbour, Dean McDermott, the elder Mr Rahami was seen a few days ago hauling "computer equipment" into his garden, dousing it in flammable liquid and setting it on fire.

Follow the latest updates on the New York bombing in our live blog here

What is he wanted in connection with?

On its "wanted" poster, the FBI says: "Rahami is wanted for questioning in connection with an explosion that occurred on September 17, 2016, at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the vicinity of 135 West 23rd Street, New York City."

That bombing saw 29 people injured when a pressure cooker device exploded in a dumpster, scattering ball bearings and shrapnel.

A second device, which failed to explode, was later found four blocks away on 27th St. Police have not said if Mr Rahami is wanted in connection to that bomb, though Governor Andrew Cuomo has previously said the devices "seem to be connected".

Elizabeth, New Jersey is also the scene where another bomb was found on Sunday night. A backpack containing as many as five potential explosive devices was found dumped in a bin at an Elizabeth train station. One of the devices exploded early on Monday morning as a bomb squad robot tried to defuse it.

In a later update, the authorities said they were seeking Mr Rahami in relation to the New Jersey bomb as well.

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