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A TERRORIST plot befell one of the world’s major cities as almost 30 people were wounded from an explosion.
Ahmad Khan Rahimi was found guilty of gathering and setting off a series of bombs in both New York and New Jersey.
Who is Ahmad Khan Rahimi?
Born on January 23, 1988, Ahmad Khan Rahimi is a convicted felon from Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Before settling in the US, Rahimi’s family emigrated from their home country to Pakistan.
In 1995, they emigrated again and settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
One of eight children, Rahimi became a naturalized US citizen in 2011.
The family owned and operated a local restaurant named First American Fried Chicken.
Before graduating from Edison High School, Rahimi welcomed his first daughter with his then-girlfriend.
On September 17, 2016, a pipe bomb was detonated in Seaside Park, New Jersey; pedestrians evacuated the area before the explosion.
The explosion was supposed to coincide with the Seaside Semper Five 5k event.
However, citizens were demanded to evacuate the area when a suspicious backpack near the event’s starting point was flagged to police.
Later that same Saturday, a homemade pressure cooker bomb was detonated in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
Four blocks away from the explosion, a second bomb went off as well.
29 victims were injured from the Chelsea bombings but there were no fatalities.
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On Sunday, September 18, a third set of explosives were discovered at the Elizabeth train station in New Jersey.
However, the bombs were discovered by authorities before they could be set off.
On September 19 of the same year, Rahimi was arrested in Linden, New Jersey.
His whereabouts were tipped off by bar owner Harinder Bains when he noticed him sleeping in the doorway of Merdie’s Tavern.
Rahimi was charged with:
- Use of weapons of mass destruction
- Bombing a place of public use
- Destruction of property by means of fire or explosives
- Use of a destructive device during and in furtherance of a crime of violence
- Attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosive
- Attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction
- Interstate transportation and receipt of explosives
What was Chelsea bomber Rahimi’s trial verdict?
On October 16, 2017, Rahimi was found guilty of the abovementioned charges brought against him.
On February 13, 2018, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
“Today our legal system delivered on its promise to provide swift and resolute justice to those who would target innocent victims by perpetrating terrorist attacks against our homeland,” said National Security’s Edward C. O’Callaghan.
“I commend all of the agents, analysts, and prosecutors whose commitment and dedication made this result possible.”
On January 24, 2020, he was given another life sentence for the attempted murder of five police officers while attempting to evade arrest on the day he was taken into custody.
Where is Rahimi now?
Rahimi remains incarcerated at ADX Florence in Fremont County, Colorado.
The Chelsea and New Jersey bombings are revisited in an episode of the crime docuseries FBI True titled The Manhattan Bomber.
Originally broadcast on February 28, 2023, the episode is scheduled to air again on Tuesday, October 10 of the same year.
The Manhattan Bomber airs at 9pm EST via CBS and is available to stream via Paramount+ and Hulu.
