Overview

Akayed Ullah is a Bangladeshi national and U.S. permanent resident who attempted to carry out a suicide bombing inside a New York City subway passageway near the Port Authority Bus Terminal on December 11, 2017.“Port Authority Blast Suspect Identified As Akayed Ullah, Is From Bangladesh and Lived In Brooklyn,” CBS New York, December 11, 2017, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/12/11/port-authority-terror-suspect/; Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html. The device only partially detonated, however, and the resulting explosion injured five people in addition to Ullah himself.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint; Lawrence Crook III and Darran Simon, “Manhattan bomb suspect makes court appearance – from hospital bed,” CNN, December 13, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/port-authority-bombing-suspect-court-appearance/index.html; Brynn Gingras et al., “5 hurt, suspect survives New York attempted suicide terror attack,” ABC 7 Eyewitness News, December 11, 2017, http://abc7ny.com/5-hurt-suspect-survives-nyc-attempted-suicide-terror-attack-/2768166/. Ullah had built the homemade explosive device using instructions that he had found online. He was taken into custody after the attempted attack and told authorities that he had carried it out in the name of ISIS.Tom Winter et al., “NYC explosion: Suspect in custody after ‘terror-related incident’ in subway,” NBC News, December 11, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nyc-authorities-respond-explosion-port-authority-bus-terminal-n828331; “U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. On December 12, Ullah was charged with five counts relating to terrorism.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. He was convicted on November 6, 2018.“Akayed Ullah Convicted for Detonation of a Bomb in New York City,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 6, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/akayed-ullah-convicted-detonation-bomb-new-york-city. Ullah was sentenced to life in prison on April 22, 2021.“Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for ISIS-inspired Bombing in New York City Subway Station in 2017,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 22, 2021, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-sentenced-life-prison-isis-inspired-bombing-new-york-city-subway-station-2017.

Ullah was reportedly born on the island of Sandwip in Bangladesh, but grew up in the country’s capital, Dhaka.Omar Tasiq, “NYC subway suspect Akayed Ullah had baby son in June,” NBC News, December 12, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/n-y-subway-suspect-akayed-ullah-had-baby-son-june-n828671. He immigrated legally to the United States with his parents and siblings in February 2011 on a family visa.“Port Authority Blast Suspect Identified As Akayed Ullah, Is From Bangladesh and Lived In Brooklyn,” CBS New York, December 11, 2017, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/12/11/port-authority-terror-suspect/; “New York Port Authority attack: Akayed Ullah ‘inspired by IS,” BBC News, December 12, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42320366. Ullah and his family followed his uncle, who was already a U.S. citizen.Tom Hays, “Prosecutors seek life term for would-be NYC suicide bomber,” Associated Press, April 1, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/new-york-new-york-city-akayed-ullah-islamic-state-group-immigration-649361cefdddaf476dbd3e7a2f871da9. Ullah obtained a green card after his arrival, becoming a legal U.S. permanent resident and living in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, where there is a Bangladeshi community.“Port Authority Blast Suspect Identified As Akayed Ullah, Is From Bangladesh and Lived In Brooklyn,” CBS New York, December 11, 2017, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/12/11/port-authority-terror-suspect/; Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html. Ullah was reportedly religious and attended the Masjid Nur al Islam mosque in his neighborhood.Alan Feur and Luis Ferré-Sadurní, “For Bombing Suspect, a Life Split Between Bangladesh and Brooklyn,” New York Times, December 12, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/nyregion/subway-bombing-akayed-ullah-bangladesh.html.

Between March 2012 and March 2015, Ullah held a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission driver’s license, but the Commission does not have any information on whether he was ever independently hired as a driver.Tom Winter et al., “NYC explosion: Suspect in custody after ‘terror-related incident’ in subway,” NBC News, December 11, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nyc-authorities-respond-explosion-port-authority-bus-terminal-n82833; Ray Sanchez and Joe Sterling, “Akayed Ullah: What we know about the Manhattan explosion suspect,” CNN, December 12, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/11/us/ny-suspect-what-we-know/index.html. Prior to his attempted attack, Ullah reportedly worked as an electrician, at times working near the Port Authority Bus Terminal.Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html; Abigail Gepner et al., “Port Authority bombing suspect was ‘always angry,’” New York Post, December 11, 2017, https://nypost.com/2017/12/11/neighbors-say-port-authority-bombing-suspect-always-looked-angry/. Authorities report that he made a number of overseas trips, including trips to Dubai and Bangladesh.Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html; Abigail Gepner et al., “Port Authority bombing suspect was ‘always angry,’” New York Post, December 11, 2017, https://nypost.com/2017/12/11/neighbors-say-port-authority-bombing-suspect-always-looked-angry/. On one of those trips to Bangladesh in 2016, he got married. His wife remained in Bangladesh, and he traveled there to visit her and their newborn son in September 2017.Omar Tasiq, “NYC subway suspect Akayed Ullah had baby son in June,” NBC News, December 12, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/n-y-subway-suspect-akayed-ullah-had-baby-son-june-n828671; Euan McKirdy and Sugam Pokharel, “New York bombing suspect’s wife ‘didn’t know about radicalization,’” CNN, December 13, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/port-authority-bombing-suspect-akayed-ullah/index.html. Prior to the attempted attack, he had no criminal record either in the United States or in Bangladesh.Abigail Gepner et al., “Port Authority bombing suspect was ‘always angry,’” New York Post, December 11, 2017, https://nypost.com/2017/12/11/neighbors-say-port-authority-bombing-suspect-always-looked-angry/.

According to the criminal complaint filed against him, Ullah’s radicalization began in 2014. He viewed ISIS propaganda materials online, including a video instructing ISIS supporters to conduct attacks in their home countries.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. Bangladeshi authorities also revealed that Ullah had encouraged his wife to read texts by the radical Bangladeshi imam Jasimuddin Rahmani, who was allegedly inspired by al-Qaeda. Rahmani lead the Islamic extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team and was implicated in the murders of atheist bloggers.Tracy Connor, “Akayed Ullah hears charges in NYC subway bombing from hospital bed,” NBC News, December 13, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/akayed-ullah-hears-charges-nyc-subway-bombing-hospital-bed-n829346. In 2016, Ullah began conducting Internet research on how to build an explosive device.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. According to the New York Post, he used the instructions from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)’s online propaganda magazine Inspire.Abigail Gepner et al., “Port Authority bombing suspect was ‘always angry,’” New York Post, December 11, 2017, https://nypost.com/2017/12/11/neighbors-say-port-authority-bombing-suspect-always-looked-angry/. The criminal complaint alleges that he began collecting the necessary materials to build a bomb about two or three weeks before the attempted attack, and constructed the bomb in his Brooklyn apartment.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. The materials that Ullah used included Christmas tree lights, wiring, metal screws, and a metal pipe that he reportedly obtained at a construction work site.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint; Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html.

At approximately 7:20 a.m. on December 11, 2017, in the 42^nd Street underground passageway between New York City’s 7^th and 8^th Avenues, Ullah detonated an explosive device in an attempted attack that injured himself and at least five others.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint; Brynn Gingras et al., “5 hurt, suspect survives New York attempted suicide terror attack,” ABC 7 Eyewitness News, December 11, 2017, http://abc7ny.com/5-hurt-suspect-survives-nyc-attempted-suicide-terror-attack-/2768166/. The incident took place near New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal. Ullah had filled the device with metal screws with the intent to cause maximum damage and attached it to his body with plastic zip ties.Tom Winter et al., “NYC explosion: Suspect in custody after ‘terror-related incident’ in subway,” NBC News, December 11, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nyc-authorities-respond-explosion-port-authority-bus-terminal-n828331; “U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. However, the device, which law enforcement officials deemed “low-tech,” only partially detonated: the explosive chemical ignited, but the pipe itself did not explode.Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst, and Tracy Connor, “Akayed Ullah: NYC explosion suspect identified as 27-year-old Brooklyn man,” NBC News, December 11, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/akayed-ullah-nyc-explosion-suspect-identified-27-year-old-brooklyn-n828361; Lawrence Crook III and Darran Simon, “Manhattan bomb suspect makes court appearance – from hospital bed,” CNN, December 13, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/port-authority-bombing-suspect-court-appearance/index.html. After the attempted attack, he was taken into custody and transferred to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. None of the injuries inflicted were life-threatening.Tom Winter et al., “NYC explosion: Suspect in custody after ‘terror-related incident’ in subway,” NBC News, December 11, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nyc-authorities-respond-explosion-port-authority-bus-terminal-n828331.

Ullah reportedly acted alone in attempting to carry out the attack.Lawrence Crook III and Darran Simon, “Manhattan bomb suspect makes court appearance – from hospital bed,” CNN, December 13, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/port-authority-bombing-suspect-court-appearance/index.html. Ullah waived his Miranda rights after his arrest and told investigators that he carried out the bombing “for the Islamic State,” although he reportedly had no direct contact with the group.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint; “The Latest: Mayor of Paris sends message of support for NYC,” Associated Press, December 11, 2017, https://www.apnews.com/ec1f7c0078fd427699a96d4889939856; “Akayed Ullah Convicted for Detonation of a Bomb in New York City,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 6, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/akayed-ullah-convicted-detonation-bomb-new-york-city. While in custody, Ullah also reportedly told investigators that he had been inspired by previous Christmas terror attacks in Europe as well as ISIS propaganda materials encouraging a Christmas attack that featured an image of Santa Claus over Times Square, and chose the Port Authority Bus Terminal because of the holiday posters on the subway walls there.“New York Port Authority attack: Allah Ullah ‘inspired by IS,’” BBC News, December 12, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42320366; Ray Sanchez and Joe Sterling, “Akayed Ullah: What we know about the Manhattan explosion suspect,” CNN, December 12, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/11/us/ny-suspect-what-we-know/index.html. He also stated that he chose a workday to carry out the attack because he thought there would be more people in public.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint; Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html.

According to the criminal complaint filed against him, Ullah attempted to carry out the attack because of the U.S. government’s policies in the Middle East.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. Other sources reported that it was in retaliation for American airstrikes in Syria targeting ISIS members, for recent Israeli actions in Gaza, and for “decades of violence” against Muslims in Gaza, Syria, and Iraq.Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html; Lawrence Crook III and Darran Simon, “Manhattan bomb suspect makes court appearance – from hospital bed,” CNN, December 13, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/port-authority-bombing-suspect-court-appearance/index.html; Shawn Cohen et al., “Suicide bombing suspect was a caber driver bent on revenge: cops,” New York Post, December 11, 2017, https://nypost.com/2017/12/11/suicide-bombing-suspect-was-a-cab-driver-bent-on-revenge-cops/. On the morning of December 11, before carrying out the attempted attack, Ullah made a Facebook post stating, “Trump you failed to protect your nation.” He also made a post implying that the attack would be carried out in the name of ISIS. Additionally, his passport contained a handwritten message that said, “O America, die in your rage.”“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint; Alan Feuer, “Suspect in Times Square Bombing Leaves Trail of Mystery,” New York Times, December 11, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-bombing-suspect.html. Investigators searching Ullah’s apartment after the bombing discovered pieces of metal pipes, Christmas lights, wires, and screws that match screws found at the scene.“Akayed Ullah Convicted for Detonation of a Bomb in New York City,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 6, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/akayed-ullah-convicted-detonation-bomb-new-york-city.

On December 12, 2017, Ullah was charged with five federal counts relating to terrorism: providing material support to ISIS, use of a weapon of mass destruction, bombing a public place, destruction of property, and use of a destructive device during a crime of violence.“U S v Akayed Ullah Complaint,” NPR, December 12, 2017, https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=4326962-U-S-v-Akayed-Ullah-Complaint. He was also charged with three state counts relating to terrorism. The charges were presented to him during a court hearing on December 13, which Ullah attended via video camera from his hospital bed.Lawrence Crook III and Darran Simon, “Manhattan bomb suspect makes court appearance – from hospital bed,” CNN, December 13, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/port-authority-bombing-suspect-court-appearance/index.html; Tracy Connor, “Akayed Ullah hears charges in NYC subway bombing from hospital bed,” NBC News, December 13, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/akayed-ullah-hears-charges-nyc-subway-bombing-hospital-bed-n829346.

In January 2018, Ullah pleaded not guilty to charges against him.Rana Novini and Jon Schuppe, “Akayed Ullah not guilty to botched New York subway bombing,” NBC News, January 11, 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/akayed-ullah-pleads-not-guilty-botched-new-york-subway-bombing-n836936. Nonetheless, during his federal trial Ullah’s attorneys did not dispute that he had attempted the suicide bombing.Benjamin Weiser and Emily Palmer, “Akayed Ullah Guilty of ISIS-Inspired Bombing Near Times Square,” New York Times, November 6, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/nyregion/port-authority-bombing-verdict.html. Prosecutors presented multiple surveillance videos of Ullah leaving his apartment, traveling to Times Square, and setting off the bomb.Benjamin Weiser, “The Subway Bomber’s Journey to 42nd Street, Captured on Camera,” New York Times, November 5, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/nyregion/port-authority-bomber-trial.html?module=inline. On November 5, 2018, Ullah was convicted on all charges in federal court. After jurors delivered the verdict, Ullah told the judge that he did not support ISIS and that he had in fact attempted the bombing out of anger at President Donald Trump because he had said he would “bomb the Middle East.”Benjamin Weiser and Emily Palmer, “Akayed Ullah Guilty of ISIS-Inspired Bombing Near Times Square,” New York Times, November 6, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/nyregion/port-authority-bombing-verdict.html. Ullah faces a life sentence.Benjamin Weiser and Emily Palmer, “Akayed Ullah Guilty of ISIS-Inspired Bombing Near Times Square,” New York Times, November 6, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/nyregion/port-authority-bombing-verdict.html. Although he was initially scheduled for sentencing in February 2020,Tareq Haddad, “Family of Convicted New York Pipe Bomb Detonator Facing Deportation as Unjust 'Collective Punishment,' They Say,” Newsweek, November 30, 2019, https://www.newsweek.com/family-new-york-terrorist-facing-deportation-collective-punishment-1474880. the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has indefinitely delayed Ullah’s sentencing hearing.Stephen Rex Brown, “NYC Judge Upholds Conviction of Port Authority Bomber Akayed Ullah,” Daily News, January 4, 2021, https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-port-authority-bomber-decision-20210104-b74ptfieiffxzo2hlm7lrbsr7u-story.html.

On January 4, 2021, a federal appeals judge declined to overturn Ullah’s guilty verdict. While his lawyers argued that Ullah had not acted on behalf of ISIS, the judge ruled that the evidence “amply establishes that Defendant acted at ISIS’s direction by heeding the call of the organization’s propaganda and recruiting materials.”Rebecca Rosenberg, “Judge Upholds Conviction for Subway Bomber Akayed Ullah,” New York Post, January 4, 2021, https://nypost.com/2021/01/04/judge-upholds-conviction-for-subway-bomber-akayed-ullah/; Larry Neumeister, “Judge Rejects NYC Subway Bomber's Conviction Challenge,” NBC4 New York, January 4, 2021, https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-rejects-nyc-subway-bombers-conviction-challenge/2810607/. Ullah was sentenced to life in prison on April 22, 2021. According to federal Judge Richard J. Sullivan, Ullah’s failure to execute the attack did not alleviate his responsibility for a “calculated, premeditated decision to kill as many people” as possible.Benjamin Weiser, “Port Authority Bomber Is Sentenced to Life in Prison,” New York Times, April 22, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/nyregion/akayed-ullah-port-authority-pipe-bomb.html.