(Eds: Updating with more details)New York, Dec 11 (PTI) An ISIS-inspired Bangladeshi-origin man, wearing a homemade device, triggered a blast at ametro station in New York City during the morning rush hours,injuring four persons and causing chaos in one of the busiestcommuter hubs in the metropolis, officials said.
Akayed Ullah, the 27-year-old suspected bomber, had wiresand a pipe bomb strapped to his body. The device prematurelyexploded between two subway platforms near Port Authority,which is America's largest bus terminal, police said.
The suspect was taken into custody after the devicepartially exploded. The subway station was evacuated and PortAuthority terminal was shut down.
Ullah was alone, the police said, adding that theexplosion was recorded on surveillance video.
No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion sofar, though it was being treated as terror-related.
"This was an attempted terrorist attack. Thank God he didnot achieve his goal," Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters.
"At this point in time, all we know of is one individualwho, thank God, was unsuccessful in his aims," Blasio said.
"There are also no credible and specific threats againstNew York City at this time. But we will give you moreinformation as the investigation unfolds," he said.
"Our lives revolve around the subway. The choice of NewYork is always for a reason, because we are beacons of theworld. We show that a society of many background and manyfaiths can work...The terrorists want to undermine that. Theyyearn to attack New York City," he added.
A total of four injuries were reported at the scene ofthe explosion at Port Authority, the New York PoliceDepartment said, adding all injuries are non-life-threatening.
The suspect, who lived in Brooklyn, suffered serious burninjuries and is currently admitted at a hospital. He hadarrived in the US some seven years ago from Bangladesh.
"Preliminary investigation at the scene indicates thatthis male was wearing an improvised low-tech explosive deviceattached to his body. He intentionally detonated that device,"Police Commissioner James O'Neil told reporters.
O'Neill told reporters the suspect is being questionedBut he refrained from giving any detailed information on theinvestigation.
"He did make statements, but we're not going to talkabout that right now," he told reporters in response to aquestion.
Soon after the explosive devise went off prematurely at ametro station in a busy New York transit place, the policefound Ullah with wires attached to his body.
He had attached the pipe bomb to himself with a"combination of Velcro and zip ties", O'Neill said.
He suffered burns to his hands and abdomen and was inserious condition at Bellevue Hospital Center, New York FireDepartment Commissioner Daniel A Nigro said.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the New Yorkexplosion, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.
The FBI has joined the investigation.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that New Yorkerswould not be disrupted by such an attempt.
"We are a target by many who would like to make astatement against freedom...Let's go back to work we are notgoing to allow them to disrupt us," he said.
"The reality is that we are a target by many who wouldlike to make a statement against democracy, against freedom.
We have statue of Liberty in our harbour and that make suspectaninternational target. We understand that," he said.
Former New York Police Department Commissioner BillBratton told MSNBC that the man was inspired by the IslamicState terror group and originally came from Bangladesh.
The attack is being investigated by the Joint TerrorismTask Force, which comprises of FBI and other federal, stateand city investigating and law enforcement agencies.
The Bangladeshi Embassy in Washington condemned theincident.
"Government of Bangladesh is committed to its declaredpolicy of 'Zero Tolerance' against terrorism, and condemnsterrorism and violent extremism in all forms or manifestationsanywhere in the world, including Monday morning's incident inNew York City," the embassy said in a statement.
"A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his or herethnicity or religion, and must be brought to justice," saidthe embassy in statement.
Its officials were in "touch with officials" of the NewYork Police Department regarding his legal status and hisorigin in Bangladesh.
Earlier, the New York Police Department tweeted that itwas responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at42nd Street and 8th Ave, Manhattan.
The New York Fire Department received call around 7.19am.
"I was exiting the Port Authority and the National Guardwas running towards something shouting 'Go, Go, Go'," commuterKeith Woodfin tweeted, according to New York Daily News.
Designer Chelsea LaSalle tweeted that she was "stuck in arunning stampede at port authority bus terminal due to bombscare. cops EVERYWHERE."Security was enhanced in several major American citiesafter the explosion in the New York City.
"We are monitoring the incident that occurred in New YorkCity this morning. At this time, there are no current threatsto the District of Columbia. We ask all residents and visitorsto remain vigilant," said the Washington DC Police Department.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M Nielsen spokewith New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York PoliceDepartment (NYPD) Commissioner James OÂ’Neill regarding thedetails of the attempted terrorist attack in New York City.
"The Department of Homeland Security is takingappropriate action to protect our people and our country inthe wake of today's attempted terrorist attack in New YorkCity," he said.
"We will continue to assist New York authorities with theresponse and investigation and we urge the public to remainvigilant and report any suspicious activity," he said, addingthat the administration continues to adopt significantsecurity measures to keep terrorists from entering the countryand from recruiting within its borders.
"The enemy we face is persistent and adaptive. But theyshould know this: Americans will not be coerced by terrorism,and we will not allow it to become the new normal. We willfight back aggressively and bring terrorists to justice,"Nielsen said. PTI LKJ UZM ZH AKJUZM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.