SHARE

Shootout Ends With Capture Of Afghani Native Sought In Bombings

This story has been updated.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, in this shot from exclusive ABC7 Eyewitness News video.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, in this shot from exclusive ABC7 Eyewitness News video.

Photo Credit: COURTESY: ABC7 Eyewitness News
Ahmad Khan Rahami

Ahmad Khan Rahami

Photo Credit: Provided/NYPD

UPDATE: The FBI on Monday afternoon confirmed the capture of a 28-year-old Elizabeth, N.J., man wanted for questioning in connection with Saturday's bombings in midtown Manhattan and Seaside Park, as well as several bombs found at a train station near his home, after a shootout in Linden, N.J.

Investigators believe Ahmad Khan Rahami acted alone, FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney said during a Manhattan news conference.

Officials with the FBI's Newark Field Office say they "would like to thank all the hard working men & women of law enforcement who have worked around the clock to apprehend Rahami."

The bureau also honored "the heroism of the Linden PD. Wishing a fast recovery to the 2 wounded officers."

******

Port Authority police on Monday afternoon deployed several heavy weapons teams to all access points of the George Washington Bridge, as well as at the tunnels and airports in New Jersey and New York, Daily Voice has learned.

******

Linden police got a call about 10:30 a.m. of a man sleeping in the doorway of a local bar, which was closed, Linden Police Capt. James Sarnicki told MSNBC.

A responding officer found Rahami, he said.

"Show your hands," the officer told Rahami, the captain said.

Rahami pulled a gun and fired one shot, hitting the officer in the abdomen, he said. The officer's bulletproof vest took most of the blow.

The officer returned fire and Rahami walked down the street, "indiscriminately firing his weapon at passing vehicles," Sanicki said.

Several officers responded -- one of whom was hit in the face with shrapnel, he said.

Rahami was shot several times but was conscious while he was lifted into an ambulance, authorities said.

Rahami is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Afghanistan, said authorities who also conducted several raids Monday morning in Elizabeth, N.J., where five bombs were found in a train station.

They also took five people into custody Sunday night after stopping a "vehicle of interest" on the Belt Parkway just coming off the Verrazano Bridge, state Sen. Marty Golden reported.

The first weekend explosion was in a trash can near the Seaside Park boardwalk as a charity 5K race to benefit U.S. military members was about to begin Saturday morning. No one was injured and the race was cancelled.

Then came another trash can bombing at 23rd Street off Seventh Avenue that injured 29 people around 8:30 p.m. Another device was found blocks away.

The FBI said several “improvised explosive devices” were found packaged Sunday night in a trash can near the Elizabeth train station. It detonated while a robot was securing it, but no one was injured, the FBI said.

Sources told NBC News that Rahami is the bombing suspect seen on video on 23rd Street and 27th Street in Manhattan.

to follow Daily Voice Bedford and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE