New York blast: Pipe bomb blast at Time square subway station

A man set off an explosive in the Times Square subway station Monday morning, injuring himself and three others, sending ambulances racing and commuters fleeing as Christmas shoppers poured into New York City.

The 27-year-old suspect, Akayed Ullah, wore the device that went off shortly after 7 am, police commissioner James O’Neill said at a news conference near the scene. Ullah suffered serious burns and other victims had minor injuries, he said. 

Officials say the New York blast was an attempted terrorist attack and that the suspect was inspired by the Islamic State. The Press Trust of India said Ullah is a Bangladeshi.

The attack was the second on New Yorkers in six weeks, coming after a man in a rented truck drove up a crowded bike path on Halloween. Monday’s explosion came at the height of Christmas season, when the city is filled with day-trippers and tourists expecting a fairy-tale Manhattan.

New York City has reopened its subways amid heightened citywide security after a man with a pipe bomb strapped to him caused an explosion in an underground passageway in the Times Square area during the morning rush hour. (AP)

 New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he has ordered extra security at mass transit hubs in his state following the pipe bomb explosion in a passageway near Times Square in Manhattan. New Jersey Transit buses have resumed normal service Monday into New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal. (AP)

 New York City police say they are combing through video of the bombing in the subway system. They say the suspect meant to set off the bomb, but it’s not clear if he meant to do so in a passageway in the Times Square area where it went off Monday

A law enforcement official says what is believed to be an explosive device has been set off on Manhattan subway platform. The explosion happened around 7.30am Monday. Passengers were evacuated as a precaution from the subway line where the explosion happened, near 40th Street and Eighth Avenue.