MANHATTAN — An explosion rocked Chelsea Saturday night, injuring 29 people on West 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue. A second bomb was found four blocks away at West 27th Street, but it did not go off. Authorities have since connected those bombs with others found in New Jersey.
Here's what we know and what questions remain unanswered:
► What happened?
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, a pipe bomb exploded inside a garbage can in Seaside Park, N.J., along the route of a 5K charity race for the Marine Corps. That race had been delayed and no one was injured by the blast.
At 8:30 p.m. that same night, a bomb went off next to a Dumpster on West 23rd Street near Sixth Avenue. And shortly after, police found a second device — a pressure cooker with a cellphone taped to it — four blocks away, on West 27th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
At 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, two men found a backpack in a garbage can in a NJ Transit train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey. When they opened it they found five pipe bombs inside and called police. Authorities later used a robot to attempt to disable the bombs and accidentally detonated one.
About an hour later, at 10:30 p.m., police stopped a vehicle on the Belt Parkway near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge believed to belong to the family of Afghanistan-born Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, of Elizabeth. They are questioning people inside in connection to the attacks.
Monday morning, authorities raided Rahami's home and released a wanted poster with his photo, saying they wanted to question him in connection to the attacks. Rahami was been described as armed and dangerous.
Later that morning, Ahmad Khan Rahami was arrested after a shoot-out in Linden, New Jersey - about four miles from Elizabeth — officials said.
► What caused the blast?
Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that the Chelsea explosion was "an intentional act" caused by a bomb. NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said investigators found "components indicative of an IED."
Other explosives appeared to be pipe bombs.
► What is an IED?
An IED is an Improvised Explosive Device. A bomb.
► Were the other devices also IED bombs?
The device found, undetonated, in the garbage can on West 27th Street was a pressure cooker with a cellphone taped to it and shrapnel inside. The NYPD used a robot to retrieve the device and then took it up to their facility in Rodman's Neck in The Bronx to examine it, police said. The device was rendered safe, and its components were sent to the FBI's facility in Quantico, Virginia. The FBI was also examining the cellphone.
The device that exploded in Seaside Park, N.J., is believed to be a pipe bomb, as are the devices found in the backpack in the Elizabeth, N.J. train station.
► Are the incidents believed to be connected?
While investigators initially said they did not believe the incidents were the work of the same individual or individuals, they now believe they are connected.
► Was it terrorism?
Initially, Mayor Bill de Blasio said there was no specific or credible evidence to link the incident to terrorism, but the motive for the bombing remained unclear. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday morning that there were no links to "international terrorism," but it wasn't clear whether there was a domestic terror link. He also said the incident met the general definition of an act of terrorism.
► Were there any injuries?
Twenty-nine people were injured in the Chelsea blast and taken to area hospitals. One person was seriously injured, though none of the injuries was considered life-threatening. Eleven people were treated and released from Bellevue Hospital by Sunday morning, the hospital said on Twitter. Eight people were taken to Lenox Health Greenwich Village, five to NYU Langone Medical Center and four to Mt. Sinai Saint Luke's Hospital. Three people refused medical attention at the scene. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said all of the victims had been released from hospitals by Sunday morning.
No one was injured in the other incidents.
► Where were the bombs found?
D. Street and Ocean Ave., Seaside Park N.J.
131 W. 23rd St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues, Chelsea
West 27th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, Chelsea
The NJ Transit station, Elizabeth, N.J.,
► Are those locations significant?
O'Neill said investigators were looking into whether there was any significance to the sites, but none was yet identified.
► Is there a suspect? Has there been an arrest?
Ahmad Khan Rahami was arrested in Linden, New Jersey, on Monday morning, officials said. Rahami had posted multiple references to jihad on his website, law enforcement sources said.
► What law enforcement agencies are involved?
The NYPD, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other related law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident. On Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo deployed 1,000 State Police and National Guardsmen to the city in an "abundance of caution."
► Will New Yorkers see more law enforcement in the city?
Yes. The mayor and the governor have deployed police and other law enforcement officials to key sites in the city. Straphangers can expect increased bag searches in the subway, officials said.
► How are people taking it?
New Yorkers for the most part remained calm Saturday night. Pizza orders were coming fast and furious to a Domino's pizza across from the blast site.
► Have there been street closures?
Yes. According to the Office of Emergency Management:
• 1 Train service has resumed making normal stops at 23rd Street and 28th Street in Manhattan
• E and F Trains have resumed making normal stops at 23rd Street in Manhattan
• Northbound traffic on 6th Avenue has reopened at 14th Street
• Southbound traffic on 7th Avenue has reopened at 34th Street
• All crosstown traffic (eastbound and westbound) has reopened from West 14th Street to West 23rd Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• West 23rd Street remains closed between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
► Has public transit been affected?
Yes. Here's how:
• NJ Transit and Amtrak were suspended overnight and are expected to have delays and schedule modifications through the day Monday.
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F trains are bypassing the 23rd Street station. As an alternative, take the N or the R train to 23rd Street, the MTA said.
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E trains are running on the F line and bypassing the 23rd Street station.
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1 trains are bypassing the 23rd and 28th Street stations. As an alternative, riders can take the A or the C trains to 23rd Street, the MTA said.
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M5, M7 and M23 buses are detoured in both directions, due to NYPD Activity at 23 Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue, according to the MTA.
Detour is as follows:
M5 and M7 Northbound: Via Sixth Avenue, left on 14th Street, right on Eighth Avenue, right on 34th Street, left on Sixth Avenue and regular route.
M23 Eastbound: Via 23rd Street, right on Ninth Avenue, left on 14th Street, left on Fourth Avenue, right on 23rd Street and regular route.
M23 Westbound: Via 23rd Street, right on Madison Avenue, left on 34 Street, left on Ninth Avenue, right on 23rd Street and regular route.
X1 Manhattan Bound: Via Sixth Avenue, left on 14th Street, right on Eighth Avenue, right on 34th Street, left on Sixth Avenue and regular route.
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Full service is expected to resume on the subways by Monday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
► Where can I read more about this?
Here is a roundup of DNAinfo New York's coverage:
- Thieves Helped Crack the Chelsea Bombing Case, Sources Say
- This Man Planted the Bombs in Chelsea, Sources Say
- De Blasio and Cuomo Rift Returns During Chelsea Bombing Response
- Chelsea Bombing Investigators Search Social Media As Missive is Found
- Bomb Caused 23rd Street Explosion, Officials Say
- Pizza Orders — And Gripes — Keep Coming for Domino's Across From Blast Site
- New Yorkers Near Scene of Manhattan Explosion Adamantly Refuse To Panic
- Explosion on 23rd Street Was 'Intentional Act,' Mayor Says
