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Possible ISIS attack on New York City's Port Authority injures 3, suspect in custody

nyc bus explosion
nyc bus explosion

CNBC Now/Twitter

  • The police in New York City say they have one person in custody after an explosion took place in Port Authority, a massive transit hub in midtown Manhattan.

  • Reports indicate the suspect may have been detained with an intact explosive device.

  • Transit is backed up across the city as a result.



The NYPD detained one suspect Monday morning after responding to what the police believed to be a pipe bombing at New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal, a police representative confirmed to Business Insider.

The suspect was a 20 year-old Bangladeshi male who acted in the name of ISIS, police sources told the New York Post.

The man told investigators he made the explosive device at the electrical company where he works, sources tell the Post.

The NYPD told Business Insider that three had been injured, including the suspect. ABC News reports that the suspect has lived in the US for 7 years, and is likely to die of his injuries.

New York's official emergency-notification channel reported police activity at Port Authority, the massive transit hub at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, on Monday morning. ABC reported that at least some people were injured, though it was initially unclear how many or how severe.

Angelica Spanos, a freelance journalist, tweeted that the suspect "possibly has wires on him," indicating a possible second explosive device. A pipe bomb is a rudimentary explosive device designed to spread shrapnel.

New York Port Authority Bus Terminal map
New York Port Authority Bus Terminal map

Google Maps

Shortly after reports of an explosion surfaced, pictures popped up on social media apparently showing a police bomb-squad truck arriving at the scene. Videos from the area shows dozens of armed police officers and several ambulances rushing to the scene.

"There was a stampede up the stairs to get out," Diego Fernandez, a commuter at Port Authority, told Reuters. "Everybody was scared and running and shouting."

New York City last suffered a terror attack on October 31, when Saipov Sayfullo drove a rented truck down a pedestrial trail on the Manhattan's west side, killing 8.

The police say that the blast took place at about 7:25 a.m. ET, during the morning rush hour. The Port Authority bus terminal was evacuated, the streets around the terminal were closed, and subway lines were rerouted around both Port Authority and the connecting Times Square stop. Find information about train delays and rerouting here.

Port Authority is a critical transit hub for commuters entering New York City.

In 2016, the terminal saw a more than quarter of a million daily trips at the terminal.

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