New York bomb suspect Ahmad Rahami ‘praised Bin Laden’ and declared ‘death to oppression’ in bullet-riddled diary
Investigators have discovered a video showing him appearing to test a bomb and buying components on eBay
THE New York bomb suspect declared “death to oppression”, according to a bullet-riddled journal found on him.
Ahmad Rahami, 28, hoped to die a martyr after praising Osama Bin Laden and accusing the US of “slaughter” in the Middle East.
The Afghan-born suspect wrote: “Bombs will be heard in the streets.”
A criminal complaint filed in New York alleges that Rahami began buying bomb components in June, by purchasing citric acid, circuit boards, ball bearings and electric igniters on eBay.
It also says that investigators discovered a video, recorded two days before the terror attacks and recovered from a family member's phone, which shows Rahami appearing to test out a bomb.
Footage showed him igniting incendiary material in a cylinder, followed by a loud explosion and billowing smoke - as laughter is heard in the background, the complaint said.
US citizen Rahami was shot twice in a gun battle with police. He remains in hospital.
Investigators are looking into Rahami's overseas travel, including a visit to Pakistan a few years ago, and want to know whether he received any money or training from extremist organisations.
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They believe he may have received terrorist training on his “radicalisation” trip to Pakistan where he visited the Taliban stronghold of Quetta.
Investigators believe that Rahami's use of the chemical indicates overseas training.
Officials were yesterday also quizzing his Pakistani-born wife who fled the US three days before the attacks.
She is said to be cooperating with authorities.
The suspect’s former high school sweetheart has also launched legal proceedings for full custody of their daughter, following his arrest.
Maria Mena, 26, who described her ex-lover as a deadbeat, gay-hating dad, was granted temporary sole custody at a court in New Jersey yesterday.
In 2008, she sued him for £770 in child support.
Maria said yesterday: “I think he was brainwashed.”
After the alleged jihadi was captured, the FBI said he had not been on their radar.
It later emerged that his own father, Muhammad, 53, had reported his son to the FBI in 2014 after worrying he had been radicalised.
But he later retracted the allegations and checks on Rahami concluded there were no ties to terrorism.