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Naturalized US citizen from Afghanistan sought in NYC

Two U.S. officials say a notebook with extremist ramblings was found when the man suspected of placing bombs in New York City and New Jersey was taken into custody.

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The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk about the ongoing investigation.

Asked how she would specifically try to prevent lone wolf attacks, Clinton said, “I think the lone wolf problem is one that we have to invest more time and more resources into combatting”.

Tucker reported from Washington.

Mr Cuomo said that, while the bombs discovered in Manhattan and New Jersey were not identical, there were “certain commonalities” among the chemicals and technologies used.

New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill said officials would explore a possible connection between the two cases but noted, “At this point, there doesn’t appear to be one”.

Mr. Christie said that he had spoken with President Obama on Monday morning, and that they had discussed the state and federal law enforcement actions. He says the president also expressed appreciation for the work of first responders.

Investigators have not determined if those two men are connected to the man with the duffel bag on both streets, the sources said.

He was wanted for questioning in connection with the blasts in NY and New Jersey, and the backpack containing explosives in Elizabeth.

Authorities are investigating three incidents – explosions in NY and New Jersey and a stabbing attack in Minnesota – that took place within a 12-hour period on Saturday and sowed fears of terrorism.

A news agency linked to the Islamic State claimed Sunday that the suspect in Minnesota, who was fatally shot by an off-duty police officer, was “a soldier” of the militant group, though there was no confirmation of what connection the man may have had.

The officials also said that Ahmad Khan Rahami had traveled to Pakistan in recent years.

People are now coming and going as usual in the Manhattan neighborhood rocked by a bomb – although jarring reminders of the weekend blast remain. He described numerous injured as “disoriented” and said he helped guide one bleeding woman to an ambulance as he calmed others.

Witnesses described a deafening blast that shattered storefront windows and injured bystanders with shrapnel in the mostly residential neighborhood on the city’s west side.

The former partner of an Afghan-born man arrested after weekend bombings in NY and New Jersey is seeking full custody of their child, according to a court document seen by Reuters.

The official says the Federal Bureau of Investigation looked into the matter, but that Mohammad Rahami later retracted his comment and said he meant that his son was hanging out with the wrong crowd, including gangs.

He was expected to comment Monday afternoon after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (HY’-dahr ahl ah-BAH’-dee) on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in NY. On Sunday, five explosive devices were discovered at a New Jersey train station.

“Just assume there could be a terrorist attack anytime, anywhere”, Cuomo said. He is a naturalized citizen from Afghanistan.

Cuomo said on MSNBC: “Today’s information suggests it may be foreign-related, but we’ll see where it goes”. All of those admitted to hospitals had been released.

Investigators found a pressure-cooker device about a half-mile from the blast site, along with a piece of paper with writing on it, CNN reported. They alerted police when they saw wires and a pipe, the mayor said.

The NYPD tweeted Monday morning that authorities were seeking Ahmad Khan Rahami.

“This is the nightmare scenario”, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, said.

MacArthur represents the district where a pipe bomb blew up before a military charity run Saturday in Seaside Park.

And on Sunday night, five explosive devices were found near an Elizabeth, New Jersey, train station.

Investigators said they found similarities between this device and the bomb that exploded in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood Saturday evening, but have not linked the two events at this time.

The Manhattan explosion occurred about 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the area of West 23rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, injuring 29 people as it hurled glass and debris into the air, officials said.

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After the bombing in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill deBlasio went to great lengths to assure New Yorkers that global terrorism was not involved.

Crime scene investigators work at the scene of Saturday's explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood in New York Sunday Sept. 18 2016