Suspected bomber named as Akayed Ullah, 27-year-old Bangladeshi national Device exploded on a subway platform at at the Port Authority Bus terminal near Times Square Five people, including the suspect, have been injured but none of the injuries are life-threatening The transit hub, one of the busiest in the US, has now reopened A bomb has exploded on a Manhattan subway platform leaving five people injured in a suspected-Isil-inspired attack. The suspected bomber is Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi national who is thought to have lived in the US for seven years. Ullah, who lived in Brooklyn, was armed with a five-inch metal pipe bomb and battery pack as he walked through a midtown Manhattan transit hub, sources told the New York Post. An image thought to be of Akayed Ullah by CBS news Credit: CBS/Universal News And Sport The device prematurely exploded which meant it only partially detonated in the right side of the suspect's jacket. Ullah, who is thought to have been seriously injured in the attack, told officials he made the explosive device at the electrical company where he works, according to the New York Post. New York City explosion: Reports of rush-hour blast in Midtown Manhattan The blast happened on Monday morning in an underpass at the Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square – the nation's most crowded bus station. The New York Police Department (NYPD) said an “explosion of unknown origin” had been reported at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. CCTV Port Authority image reported to be of Akayed Ullah Credit: NY Port Authority/Universal News And Sport It is thought the bomb was intended to explode on a subway carriage, where it could have affected hundreds of people, but went off prematurely. Ullah is in custody and four other people have been injured in the attack, NYPD said. None of the injuries are life-threatening, the department said. The explosion occurred inside the passageway to the A, C, and E trains at 8th Avenue and W 42nd Street at around 7:20 am. New York explosion at Port Authority Terminal The NYPD said three metro lines are being evacuated. The attack, at rush hour, also occurred at a busy shopping period for the city. The incident took place five blocks from Times Square near the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the main station for interstate buses into Manhattan and New York City. The incident occurred less than two months after an Uzbek immigrant killed eight people by speeding a rental truck down a New York City bike path, in an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. 5:12PM Intelligence agencies investigating suspect A thorough background investigation into Akayed Ullah is being conducted by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Commissioner O'Neill said. 4:05PM Footage shows moment of attack 3:11PM Live from the scene The explosion took place opposite a corner shop owned by a Bangladeshi Muslim man, Harriet Alexander reports from the scene. “The people who do this have no religion,” he said. “They are just savages.” He only learnt of the incident when customers came in and told him – he heard no explosion. “It's sad, but it happens all over the world. In my country, in your country, here. That mosque attack in Egypt? Terrible, too. “It's a fact of life now.” 2:50PM Suspect had pipe bomb strapped to him, officials confirm The device was a pipe bomb fixed to the bomber with hook and loop fastens and zip ties, officials said in a press conference. 2:47PM Bomber named as Akayed Ullah Akayed Ullah is the 27-year-old suspect, New York Police said. The suspect was placed in custody and transferred to Bellevue hospital. “We are asking anyone with information about this individual to come forward,” Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. The individual who carried the device had burns and lacerations to his hands and abdomen. 2:43PM Bill De Blasio: 'Our enemies want to undermine our multi-cultural society' There are no additional known incidents at this time, no additional activities, said New York Mayor Bill De Blasio. The Mayor told a press conference that the incident, which happened at the start of the city's rush hour, was “an attempted terrorist attack.” “All we know is there was one individual who, thank God, was unsuccessful in his attempt,” he said. Mr De Blasio added a fuller investigation would follow. #HappeningNow: @NYCMayor, @NYPDONeill, @FDNY, @NewYorkFBI and @NYGovCuomo update New Yorkers on explosion at #PortAuthorityhttps://t.co/YahqkiviX1— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 11, 2017 “As New Yorkers our lives revolve around the subways. When we hear of an attack in the subways it is incredibly unsettling,” de Blasio said. 2:39PM Governor: 'This is New York – let's go back to work' New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has praised the emergency services for their response. “Everyone worked together. There was an explosion, it was an effectively low-tech device. There were several minor injuries and it was handled extremely well.” All bus services are being restored now, Mr Cuomo said. “This is one of our worst nightmares. This is New York. We are a target by many who would like to make a statement against freedom…That makes us an international target, we understand that,” he said. “Anyone can go onto the internet. The counter reality is this is New York and we keep our eyes open and we have the best law enforcement in the world. We will go forward together, let's go back to work. We are not going to allow them to disrupt us.” “This is NYC, we don’t live in fear. But if you see something suspicious you have an obligation to come forward and tell us,” @NYPDONeill now on #PortAuthority incident pic.twitter.com/eizS4wKUH5— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 11, 2017 2:30PM Dollar weakened in reaction to attack News of the incident jarred financial markets as trading was getting underway for the week. Standard & Poor's 500 index emini futures pared gains, the dollar weakened against the yen and US Treasury securities prices gained on a modest flight-to-safety bid. 2:15PM Huge police presence Harriet Alexander is at the scene. She writes: New York’s police department has shut the normally chaotic 8th Avenue from Penn Station north, for around 10 blocks. Large blacked-out 4x4s are streaming in, sirens blaring, with senior NYPD officials arriving on the scene. There is a huge police presence at the Port Authority terminal itself, with heavily-armed police at the door and NYPD officers yelling at the curious onlookers not to stand in the road and take photos on their phones, blocking the influx of police cars. The explosion was in the middle of rush hour, and yet many caught up in it seemed unaware, asking instead why they had been asked to get off the subway. 1:58PM Bomber is 27-year-old man The suspected bomber is a 27-year-old man, according to the former NY police commissioner Bill Bratton. 1:43PM Male suspect had explosives 'strapped on' body The male suspect had explosives strapped on when they exploded, law enforcement official told AP. Fire brigade crew wait at the scene after an explosion occured at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York Credit: Getty 1:36PM Donald Trump briefed on attack The US President has been briefed on the explosion in New York, the White House said. 1:32PM Just one person injured, in addition to the suspected bomber Just one person has been injured in addition to the suspected bomber, CNN reported. The bomb went off prematurely and had been intended to cause far greater damage. 1:29PM Bomb found on subway platform The bomb was reportedly found on a train platform, which suggests it was intended to be detonated in a train carriage. A still from a WNYW video showing police in Manhattan following reports of an explosion 1:27PM 'Isil-inspired attack' – Bill Bratton Former NY police commissioner Bill Bratton has claimed the attack was inspired by Isil.
