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New York subway blast suspect taunted Trump before detonating bomb

On his way to carrying out Monday's New York subway attack, the suspect posted a statement on Facebook stating, 'Trump you failed to protect your nation,' authorities allege in court documents.
Akayed Ullah of Brooklyn, N.Y., had a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission for-hire vehicle driver’s license from March 2012 through March 2015. He did not renew his license in 2015. (Photo: New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission)

Bangladesh native Akayed Ullah taunted President Trump in a Facebook post minutes before igniting chaos near Times Square by detonating a pipe bomb loaded with metal screws in a crowded transit hub at rush hour, authorities allege in a federal complaint filed Tuesday.

“On the way to carrying out the December 11 attack, Ullah posted a statement on his Facebook account stating, “Trump you failed to protect your nation," according to the complaint filed by Special Agent Joseph Cerciello with the Homeland Security Investigations, Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The five-count complaint charges the Brooklyn resident with bombing a public place, use of a weapon of mass destruction, providing support for the Islamic State, destruction of property by fire or explosives and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Ullah admitted to investigators that he build the pipe bomb, saying he was inspired by the Islamic State, according to the complaint.

“Ullah carried out the December 11 attack in part because of the United States Government’s policies in, among other places, the Middle East," the complaint states. Ullah hoped to "terrorize as many people as possible" and conducted his attack on a workday hoping to impact more people, the court complaint charges.

Ullah’s radicalization began as far back as 2014, the complaint says. He viewed pro-ISIS materials online, “including a video instructing, in substance, that if supporters of ISIS were unable to travel overseas to join ISIS, they should carry out attacks in their homelands."

He began searching the Internet about a year ago for information about building improvised explosive devices, the complaint claims. Federal investigators who searched Ullah’s Brooklyn home recovered metal pipes, pieces of wire and fragments of what appeared to be Christmas tree lights, multiple screws consistent with the screws found at the bombing scene.

Also found was a passport with the name Akayet Ullah that featured multiple handwritten notations, including “O AMERICA, DIE IN YOUR RAGE,” the complaint alleged.

Earlier, the NYPD announced that Ullah faced state charges of including criminal possession of a weapon, supporting an act of terrorism and making terroristic threats.

Ullah, 27, was not on the radar of law enforcement prior to Monday's blast, John Miller, NYPD's deputy commissioner for counterterrorism and intelligence, told CBS This Morning. He said Ullah did not appear to have been struggling financially or facing any other particular pressures.

"He was somewhat characteristic of what we've been seeing across the world, which is someone who turns up one day out of the blue," Miller said. Authorities have described Ullah as a lone wolf who was inspired by the Islamic State, a common theme in recent attacks, Miller said.

“The conspiracy is within the confines of their own mind," Miller said. "That’s a very hard place to get to."

The city's morning commute ran smoothly Tuesday, and the pedestrian tunnel where Ullah detonated what was essentially a vest of explosives was open.

A statement released Monday night by relatives said Ullah's family is deeply saddened by the suffering the attack has caused but outraged by the way family members were targeted by law enforcement. The statement said a teen relative of Ullah was removed from class and questioned without a parent, guardian or attorney present.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, police have been questioning Ullah's wife and other relatives, Banglanews24 reported Tuesday. Ullah's wife, Jannatul Ferdous Jui, 25, lives there with the couple's 6-month-old son, the news outlet reported.

Ullah detonated his improvised, low-tech explosive device in the crowded pedestrian tunnel Monday at about 7:20 a.m. ET, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. The device, described as crudely made, apparently failed to completely detonate, though Ullah had some experience with electrical work.

Ullah and three people near him were wounded in the blast. Ullah expected to die in the attack and believed that others would perish with him, the official said. The official said the suspect waived his rights to counsel before speaking with investigators.

Contributing: Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

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