Advertisement

New York explosion: Suspect named as Akayed Ullah after pipe bomb terror blast in Manhattan subway

Police have arrested a man after a terror-related pipe bomb explosion at Manhattan’s busiest bus terminal in New York.

The blast occurred at the Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square which was packed with commuters on Monday morning.

Police have taken one man into custody. He was injured when the bomb reportedly malfunctioned but is said to be in a stable condition.

The suspect has since been named by police as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah.

Four people in total suffered non-life-threatening injuries, New York City Fire Department said.

Officials confirmed it was a terror-related incident.

According to some reports, the suspect went into the station carrying a device that went off prematurely.

Police and fire crews block off the streets near the New York Port Authority in New York City (REUTERS)
Police and fire crews block off the streets near the New York Port Authority in New York City (REUTERS)

The area was placed on lockdown as police investigated.

A photo circulating on social media showed a man, believed to be the suspect, lying on the ground with his clothes ripped and lacerations on his torso.

The NYPD said in its initial statement: "The NYPD is responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at 42nd Street and 8th Ave, Manhattan.

"The A, C and E line are being evacuated at this time. Info is preliminary, more when available."

Witnesses described panicked crowds running away from the bus terminal.

One wrote on social media: "I was exiting the Port Authority and the National Guard was running towards something shouting 'Go, Go, Go'."

New York: Police look on as people evacuate the terminal (AFP/Getty Images)
New York: Police look on as people evacuate the terminal (AFP/Getty Images)

Another told CNN: "From what I saw it sounded like it came from the subway, but I'm just guessing... It was two distinct explosions seconds from each other.

"As I was making my way towards the outside, I kept getting shoved by cops and there were cops at every entrance blocking and there was police and SWAT everywhere.

"It was scary. It was just a lot of chaos but I didn't see any injuries."

Andre Rodriguez, 62, told the New York Times he heard an explosion shortly before 7.30am.

He added: "I was going through the turnstile. It sounded like an explosion, and everybody started running."

Aerial footage showed scores of emergency service vehicles on the street outside.

Emergency service vehicles on the street outside the bus terminal in Manhattan (Sky News)
Emergency service vehicles on the street outside the bus terminal in Manhattan (Sky News)

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

The New York Mayor's Office said mayor Bill de Blasio had also been briefed.

Subway lines that pass beneath the bus terminal were delayed and passengers were evacuated.

The bus terminal has now been reopened.

More than 65 million people every year use Port Authority. It is the largest bus terminal in the US.