A year after explosives detonated in Manhattan and Seaside Park, New Jersey, the Chelsea Bombing trial will begin.
Opening statements will be delivered on Monday in Manhattan’s Federal District Court where the alleged culprit, 29-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahimi, will face federal terrorism charges for his suspected role in placing several bombs in New York and New Jersey. He has pleaded not guilty.
Four explosives were planned for detonation; however, only one was set off as planned, injuring 31 people when it blew up a dumpster in Chelsea on West 23rd Street. The Sept. 17th, 2016 blast shattered nearby windows, sending debris flying as pedestrians ran for cover.
Earlier that day, a device exploded in a garbage can by the finish line of a fun run for the U.S. Marine Corps. The blast occurred a mere five minutes after the race’s scheduled starting time, but late participants delayed the event, saving lives in a case of fortunate happenstance.
Part or all of the mangled Chelsea dumpster may be brought into the courtroom as an exhibit by the prosecution. However, the defense has objected, believing it to be unnecessary.
Additional explosives were located on Chelsea’s West 27th Street and an Elizabeth, New Jersey train station. Rahimi was identified as a suspect and captured after a gun battle with police in Linden, New Jersey on the morning of Sept. 19, 2016.
Rahimi, Afghan-born U.S. citizen, resided in Elizabeth and is suspected of having adopted jihadist ideals over time, as evidenced by his internet search history, text messages, bomb-making reading material and a journal in which he references terrorist figures such as Anwar al-Awlaki and Osama bin Laden.
