Akayed Ullah, the Bangladeshi-origin man charged with terror for detonating a pipe bomb near Times Square, had mocked U.S. President Donald Trump before detonating the bomb on Monday morning, according to a complaint filed in a court.
“Trump you failed to protect your nation,” he reportedly wrote on Facebook. The device exploded prematurely between two subway platforms near Port Authority, which is the U.S.’s largest bus terminal.
Ullah is reported to be in a serious condition in hospital after suffering burns in the explosion. Three other people suffered minor wounds in the blast during rush hour.
The suspect posted a statement indicating allegiance to ISIS on Facebook before the attack, the Daily Beast reported, citing the complaint.
“Trump you failed to protect your nation,” Ullah wrote on Facebook on Monday morning as he mocked US President Donald Trump.
Ullah also posted a statement indicating that he carried out the attack in the name of the IS.
A passport in the name of Akayed Ullah with multiple handwritten notations, including: “O AMERICA, DIE IN YOUR RAGE,” was also recovered from his home.
The suspect was taken into custody after the device partially exploded.
No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion so far, though it is being treated as terror-related.
Ullah has been charged on five counts, including providing material support and resources to terrorist organisations, use of weapons of mass destruction, bombing a place of public law, destruction of property by means of explosive and use of destructive device.
The pipe bomb comprised of a metal pipe, which Ullah filled with explosive material that he created. He used Christmas tree lights, wiring, and a nine-volt battery to cause the detonation of the pipe bomb.
Ullah filled the pipe bomb with metal screws, which he believed would cause maximum damage. He used zip ties to secure the Pipe Bomb to his body.
Based on preliminary investigation, federal prosecutors said Ullah carried out the December 11 attack in part because of the US government’s policies in, among other places, the Middle East.
One of his goals in carrying out the December 11 attack was to terrorise as many people as possible. He chose to carry out the attack on a workday because he believed that there would be more people, the charge sheet said.
Federal prosecutors said Ullah’s radicalisation began around 2014 when he started viewing pro-ISIS materials online, including a video instructing, in substance, that if supporters of ISIS were unable to travel overseas to join ISIS, they should carry out attacks in their homelands.
He began researching how to build IEDs on the Internet approximately one year ago.
The Bangladesh police yesterday detained the wife and in-laws of Ullah for questioning, according to a media report.
His wife Jannatul Ferdous and their six-month-old baby live with her parents in Dhaka.
