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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2017

NYC ‘remains a target,’ FBI says after bombing conviction

By LARRY NEUMEISTER inspired by propaganda Street explosive and a federal defender, and as Miller said Rahimi fired a gun
Associated Press from al-Qaida and the second pressure-cooker he left court to return to at the officer. Rahimi has
NEW YORK (AP) — The swift Islamic State group for four bomb on 27th Street that prison. Shroff promised to pleaded not guilty to New
conviction Monday of a years, carefully planned a never went off. appeal. Jersey charges stemming
New Jersey man in a mostly from the shootout that left
botched bombing mission him hospitalized for weeks
in Manhattan last summer afterward. The case is
was labeled a victory pending.
against terrorism by law Miller said Rahimi’s attack
enforcement officials who was one of two dozen plots
urged continued vigilance. against New York City since
“It’s very obvious that this Sept. 11, 2001.
city remains a target,” said A notebook stained by
William F. Sweeney Jr., head blood and pierced by
of the city’s FBI office, at a a bullet was found on
news conference outside Rahimi and became
Manhattan federal court a centerpiece of trial
after a jury that deliberated evidence. Prosecutors
about four hours over parts said words in it described
of two days convicted Rahimi’s terrorism
Ahmad Khan Rahimi of all inspirations and his intent to
eight charges against him. kill and terrorize.
Sweeney credited hundreds The jury also saw dozens
of law enforcement officers of surveillance videos of
in New Jersey and New Rahimi as he dragged
York for an airtight case through Manhattan bombs
against the 29-year-old Flanked by NYPD Deputy Commissioner Robert Miller, left, and New York FBI Assistant Director in containing his fingerprints
Charge William Sweeney, right, acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim, center, speaks outside Manhattan
Afghanistan-born Rahimi. federal court after a jury convicted Ahmad Khan Rahimi of carrying out bombings, Monday Oct. and DNA. His backpack of
Evidence at his two-week 16, 2017, in New York. Rahimi faces a mandatory life prison term at a January sentencing. bombs was found the next
trial showed he had set (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister) day near a train station in
off a pipe bomb along New Jersey.
a Marine Corps charity day of terror designed to “Today’s verdict is a victory Defense lawyers did not Miller said the case should
race in Seaside Heights, kill Americans when he left for New York City. It’s a challenge most of the be a warning to would-be
New Jersey, as a morning his Elizabeth home with two victory for America in its evidence and seemed terrorists.
prelude to the Sept. 17, pressure-cooker explosives fight against terror. It’s a to catch prosecutors by “This is the wrong place to
2016, evening bombing and seven smaller bombs victory for all who believe surprise when Shroff said try and carry out an act
in Manhattan’s Chelsea in a backpack. in the cause of justice,” Kim in closing arguments that of terrorism. Witnesses will
neighborhood that injured They called it a miracle said. the jury should exonerate come forward. Evidence
30 people. nobody died. The race With federal court as a Rahimi on charges related will be developed. Arrests
“Most importantly, I want had been delayed, and backdrop, the prosecutor to the bomb that never will be made. Prosecutions
to thank the public for somehow a blast on led an outdoor news detonated, which would will be brought forth and
how engaged they were Manhattan’s 23rd Street conference minutes after have spared him from a they will be successful,” he
when this was going on that propelled a small trash the jury returned a verdict mandatory life term. said.q
last September,” Sweeney bin 120 feet (37 meters), on charges carrying a The docile defendant was a
said. “It’s that engagement spread a rain of shrapnel mandatory life prison term. transformation from what a
that’s critical, especially and shattered apartment Sentencing for the 29-year- Linden, New Jersey, police
as we go forward into this and car windows caused old former employee of a officer encountered when
holiday season. So I wanted no fatalities. fried chicken restaurant is he tried to help Rahimi
to remind everybody to Joon H. Kim, acting U.S. set for Jan. 18. after finding him sleeping in
please stay attentive, to attorney in Manhattan, A relaxed Rahimi sometimes a doorway two days after
please stay alert, and if said Rahimi was “hoping looked at jurors as the the bombing, said John
you do see something, say to kill as many innocent verdict was read but smiled Miller, counterterrorism
something.” people as possible” when afterward as he spoke with chief of the New York Police
Prosecutors say Rahimi, he dropped off the 23rd Sabrina Shroff, an assistant Department.