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Ahmad Khan Rahami’s Father Gave Police Terrorism Tip in ’14, Officials Say Ahmad Khan Rahami’s Father Gave Police Terrorism Tip in ’14, Officials Say
(35 minutes later)
Two years before the bombings that Ahmad Khan Rahami is suspected of carrying out in New York and New Jersey, his father told the police that he suspected his son might be involved in terrorism, prompting a review by federal agents, according to two law enforcement officials.Two years before the bombings that Ahmad Khan Rahami is suspected of carrying out in New York and New Jersey, his father told the police that he suspected his son might be involved in terrorism, prompting a review by federal agents, according to two law enforcement officials.
The father, Mohammad Rahami, in a brief interview on Tuesday, said that at the time he told agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation about his concern, his son had just had a fight with another of his sons and stabbed the man, leading to a criminal investigation.The father, Mohammad Rahami, in a brief interview on Tuesday, said that at the time he told agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation about his concern, his son had just had a fight with another of his sons and stabbed the man, leading to a criminal investigation.
“Two years ago I go to the F.B.I. because my son was doing really bad, O.K.?” he said. “But they check almost two months, they say, ‘He’s O.K., he’s clean, he’s not a terrorist.’ I say O.K.”“Two years ago I go to the F.B.I. because my son was doing really bad, O.K.?” he said. “But they check almost two months, they say, ‘He’s O.K., he’s clean, he’s not a terrorist.’ I say O.K.”
He added: “Now they say he is a terrorist. I say O.K.”He added: “Now they say he is a terrorist. I say O.K.”
It is not clear if officers ever interviewed Ahmad Rahami, but as investigators turn their focus to what might have motivated, inspired or led him to plant bombs in Chelsea in Manhattan and on the Jersey Shore, new clues are emerging indicating that he may have been increasingly receptive to extremist ideology.It is not clear if officers ever interviewed Ahmad Rahami, but as investigators turn their focus to what might have motivated, inspired or led him to plant bombs in Chelsea in Manhattan and on the Jersey Shore, new clues are emerging indicating that he may have been increasingly receptive to extremist ideology.
When Mr. Rahami was captured during a shootout with the police on Monday, the authorities found a notebook, pierced with a bullet hole and covered in blood, expressing opinions sympathetic to jihadist causes, according to a law enforcement official who agreed to speak about the investigation only on the condition of anonymity.When Mr. Rahami was captured during a shootout with the police on Monday, the authorities found a notebook, pierced with a bullet hole and covered in blood, expressing opinions sympathetic to jihadist causes, according to a law enforcement official who agreed to speak about the investigation only on the condition of anonymity.
In one section of the book, Mr. Rahami wrote of “killing the kuffar,” or unbelievers, the official said. Mr. Rahami also praised Anwar al-Awlaki, Al Qaeda’s leading propagandist, who died in a drone strike in Yemen, as well as the soldier in the Fort Hood shooting, one of the deadliest “lone wolf” attacks inspired by Al Qaeda.In one section of the book, Mr. Rahami wrote of “killing the kuffar,” or unbelievers, the official said. Mr. Rahami also praised Anwar al-Awlaki, Al Qaeda’s leading propagandist, who died in a drone strike in Yemen, as well as the soldier in the Fort Hood shooting, one of the deadliest “lone wolf” attacks inspired by Al Qaeda.
Five years after his death in a drone strike in Yemen ordered by President Obama, Mr. Awlaki remains a powerful influence on would-be jihadists, especially in the English-speaking West. Among his documented admirers were Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif.; Omar Mateen, who fatally shot 49 people in an Orlando nightclub; and Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who staged an attack at the finish line of the Boston Marathon with pressure-cooker bombs in 2013.Five years after his death in a drone strike in Yemen ordered by President Obama, Mr. Awlaki remains a powerful influence on would-be jihadists, especially in the English-speaking West. Among his documented admirers were Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif.; Omar Mateen, who fatally shot 49 people in an Orlando nightclub; and Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who staged an attack at the finish line of the Boston Marathon with pressure-cooker bombs in 2013.
Thousands of Mr. Awlaki’s lectures and jihadist declarations are available on the web, as is Inspire magazine, which has published detailed instructions for making pipe bombs as well as more sophisticated explosive devices using pressure cookers and Christmas lights, the same components used in the New York-area bombs.Thousands of Mr. Awlaki’s lectures and jihadist declarations are available on the web, as is Inspire magazine, which has published detailed instructions for making pipe bombs as well as more sophisticated explosive devices using pressure cookers and Christmas lights, the same components used in the New York-area bombs.
One key area of investigation is around the question of whether Mr. Rahami had help building the bombs or if anyone knew what he was doing and failed to report it. In all, he is linked to 10 explosive devices found in the region, including the two pressure-cooker bombs, one of which exploded in Chelsea on Saturday night, injuring 29 people.One key area of investigation is around the question of whether Mr. Rahami had help building the bombs or if anyone knew what he was doing and failed to report it. In all, he is linked to 10 explosive devices found in the region, including the two pressure-cooker bombs, one of which exploded in Chelsea on Saturday night, injuring 29 people.
No terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. While the Islamic State is usually quick to claim credit for attacks around the world, organizations linked to Al Qaeda vary widely in when or if they eventually claim credit. No terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. While the Islamic State is usually quick to claim credit for attacks around the world, organizations linked to Al Qaeda vary widely in when or if they claim credit.
The authorities are scrutinizing a number of trips Mr. Rahami made overseas, particularly several to Pakistan. In May 2011, he made a three-month trip to Quetta, according to law enforcement officials, citing Customs and Border Protection records. Then, in April 2013, he made another trip to Quetta and did not return until March 2014. During that time, he made a brief trip to Ankara, Turkey, arriving and leaving there in the same month, according to information provided to federal customs authorities by the New York City police.The authorities are scrutinizing a number of trips Mr. Rahami made overseas, particularly several to Pakistan. In May 2011, he made a three-month trip to Quetta, according to law enforcement officials, citing Customs and Border Protection records. Then, in April 2013, he made another trip to Quetta and did not return until March 2014. During that time, he made a brief trip to Ankara, Turkey, arriving and leaving there in the same month, according to information provided to federal customs authorities by the New York City police.
Notably, Mr. Rahami underwent an additional interview at the airport with Customs and Border Protection officers on his returns from both of those trips, but customs officers did not flag any concerns in his travel records. Mr. Rahmani was born in Afghanistan but he became a naturalized United States citizen when he was still a minor. Notably, Mr. Rahami underwent an additional interview at the airport with Customs and Border Protection officers on his returns from both of those trips, but customs officers did not flag any concerns in his travel records. Mr. Rahami was born in Afghanistan but he became a naturalized United States citizen when he was still a minor.
Just before Mr. Rahami returned from his last trip to Pakistan in March, he emailed Representative Albio Sires, a New Jersey Democrat, asking for help getting a visa for his wife to come to America, according to Mr. Sires.Just before Mr. Rahami returned from his last trip to Pakistan in March, he emailed Representative Albio Sires, a New Jersey Democrat, asking for help getting a visa for his wife to come to America, according to Mr. Sires.
The issue was that his wife’s Pakistani passport had expired and agents at the United States Embassy in Islamabad discovered that she was 35 weeks pregnant. She was told that she would need to wait until her baby was born so she could apply for United States visas for both her and her child. The wife’s Pakistani passport had expired, and agents at the United States Embassy in Islamabad discovered that she was 35 weeks pregnant, Mr. Sires said. She was told that she would need to wait until her baby was born so she could apply for United States visas for both her and her child.
She eventually made it into the United States but is currently in Islamabad, according to officials.She eventually made it into the United States but is currently in Islamabad, according to officials.
It was unclear when her visa issue was resolved. But in August 2014, Mr. Rahami got into a fight with his family during which he stabbed his brother in the leg with a knife, according to court records. It was unclear when her visa issue was resolved. But in August 2014, Mr. Rahami got into a fight with his family, during which he stabbed his brother in the leg with a knife, according to court records.
The police arrived to investigate and it was at this time that Mr. Rahami’s father told them about his concerns about his son being a terrorist. It was unclear exactly what he meant by using that term, but the information was passed to the Joint Terrorism Task Force led by Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newark. Officers opened what is known as an assessment, the most basic of F.B.I. investigations, and interviewed the father. The police arrived to investigate, and it was at this time that Mr. Rahami’s father told them about his concerns about his son’s possible involvement in terrorism. The information was passed to the Joint Terrorism Task Force led by Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newark. Officers opened what is known as an assessment, the most basic of F.B.I. investigations, and interviewed the father.
An official, when asked about the inquiry, said the father made the comment out of anger at his son and later recanted. An official, when asked about the inquiry, said the father made the comment out of anger at his son and later recanted it.
Mr. Rahami was charged with aggravated assault and illegal weapons possession, according to court records. He spent over three months in jail, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. A grand jury, however, declined to indict Mr. Rahami. Assistant director William F. Sweeney, who heads the F.B.I.’s New York office, alluded on Monday at a news conference to a “domestic incident” in which he said the “allegations were recanted.” Mr. Rahami was charged with aggravated assault and illegal weapons possession in the domestic dispute, according to court records. He spent over three months in jail, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. A grand jury, however, declined to indict Mr. Rahami. William F. Sweeney, who heads the F.B.I.’s New York office, alluded on Monday at a news conference to a “domestic incident” in which he said the “allegations were recanted.”
Mr. Rahami remained in the hospital on Tuesday, recovering from surgery for gunshot wounds he sustained during the firefight with the police. Two officers were also injured in the gunfight.Mr. Rahami remained in the hospital on Tuesday, recovering from surgery for gunshot wounds he sustained during the firefight with the police. Two officers were also injured in the gunfight.
Police Officer Angel Padilla, who was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot in the abdomen, was released Monday night, according to Capt. James Sarnicki of the Linden Police Department. A Linden police officer, Angel Padilla, who was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot in the abdomen, was released Monday night, according to Capt. James Sarnicki of the Linden department.
Peter Hammer, a traffic investigator who was sitting in his patrol car when a bullet came through his windshield and grazed his head, was released Tuesday morning from University Hospital in Newark, Captain Sarnicki said.Peter Hammer, a traffic investigator who was sitting in his patrol car when a bullet came through his windshield and grazed his head, was released Tuesday morning from University Hospital in Newark, Captain Sarnicki said.
Mr. Rahami is currently charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, among other charges. Mr. Rahami is currently charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, among other offenses.
Peter Liguori, the deputy public defender in Union County, N.J., said that his office had not received a call or application for a lawyer in Mr. Rahami’s case.Peter Liguori, the deputy public defender in Union County, N.J., said that his office had not received a call or application for a lawyer in Mr. Rahami’s case.
“If he applies, we’ll help him,” Mr. Ligouri said. “We would represent him if he needs our services.”“If he applies, we’ll help him,” Mr. Ligouri said. “We would represent him if he needs our services.”
Mr. Rahami had a daughter with a high school girlfriend, Maria Mena, and on Tuesday, she filed court papers seeking full custody of the child, citing his possible involvement in “terrorist related activity in NYC.” Mr. Rahami had a daughter with a high school girlfriend, Maria Mena, and on Tuesday, she filed court papers seeking full custody of the child, citing his possible involvement in “terrorist-related activity in NYC.”