Two years before Ahmad Khan Rahami went on a bombing rampage in NY and New Jersey, his father told police that the son was a terrorist, prompting a review by federal agents, according to two senior law enforcement officials. Mr. Rahami’s writings, which ramble at times, indicate he took inspiration from those who urge attacks on “nonbelievers, ” one official said.
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William Sweeney, the FBI’s assistant director in NY, said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had received a report of a domestic incident involving Rahami some time ago, but the allegations had been recanted, and “there’s nothing to indicate that now he was on our radar”.
Fox News identified her only as “Maria”, and reported that bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami didn’t pay child support and often railed against American culture. “They say, ‘He’s OK, he’s clean, he’s not a terrorist.’ I say OK”.
Although sources said Mohammad Rahami later recanted his statements, he said Tuesday that “they didn’t do the job”.
The naturalized US citizen and Afghan native is facing five counts of attempted murder in New Jersey where he was arrested after a dramatic shoot-out with police.
At the time, the son was being held on an assault charge for stabbing his brother during a domestic dispute, another law enforcement official said.
Additional charges against Rahami are expected in the explosions in Seaside Park and New York City over the weekend.
“No”, Mohammad Rahami said.
Talking to reporters outside his home, Mohammad R. Rahami said he had called police on his son because he “stabbed my son” and “hit my wife”. The FBI interviewed Rahami again later and the father reiterated his statements.
That was followed by a shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bomb, which exploded Saturday night in Chelsea wounding 29 people, none seriously.
The 26-year old said she never thought him capable of the attack that injured more than a dozen people.
Officials say they believe Rahami acted alone.
– Rahami started talking to law enforcement this morning.
Mr Rahami had not previously been identified as risky, but Elizabeth police knew of his family because of late-night noise and crowd complaints at its halal chicken restaurant.
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The official, and other United States security sources, said Rahami underwent additional security screening upon returning from overseas but passed each time.
