In a Facebook post prior to detonating a pipe bomb in a subway tunnel at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, suspected terror bomber Akayed Ullah taunted President Donald Trump by saying he failed to protect the United States.
“Trump, you failed to protect your nation,” Ullah wrote on Facebook, according to a complaint filed by Special Agent Joseph Cerciello with the Homeland Security Investigations Joint Terrorism Task Force.
CNN International (Twitter)
According to the criminal complaint, Ullah was charged with bombing a public place, use of a weapon of mass destruction, providing material support for a terrorist organization, destruction of property by fire or explosives, and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to the complaint, Ullah wanted to “terrorize as many people as possible” by conducting the attack on a workday.
Ullah was inspired by ISIS to carry out the attack. Ullah’s radicalization began in 2014 while viewing pro-ISIS materials such as “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.” One year ago, Ullah searched the internet for information on how to create an improvised explosive device.
According to the complaint, investigators recovered a passport with the handwritten note, “O America, die in your rage.”
When searching Ullah’s Brooklyn home, authorities recovered materials that can be used to make an improvised explosive device similar to the one he used during the attack. They found Christmas tree lights, metal pipes, wires and screws. He started planning the attack weeks ago and built the device last week.
Ullah is recovering from burns and wounds at Bellevue Hospital after the device wasn’t completely detonated.
Five people were treated for minor injuries at area hospitals including at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Queens.
Ullah waived his Miranda rights both verbally and in writing.
