Brooklyn’s Short‑Lived Bombing Plot Gets a Whole‑New Sentence
Imagine the city’s transit hub buzzing with commuters while a hidden danger lurks below. In December 2017, that was the overnight reality when Akayed Ullah, a 28‑year‑old Bengali immigrant, tried to throw a bomb into a subway tunnel near Times Square.
What Happened
- Dec 11, 2017: Ullah’s homemade pipe bomb, strapped to his body with zip ties, was set off in a tunnel beneath the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
- The device failed to explode fully, leaving him with burn marks on his torso and hands and causing minor ear ringing and headaches for three other passengers.
- Even though the blast didn’t kill anyone, it sparked chaos—pandemic‑level panic—and disrupted the morning rush during the busy Christmas tourist season.
Trial Time
While the nation was heading to the polls for a midterm election, a Manhattan jury sat down for a week‑long trial. The verdict? Unanimously guilty.
The charges:
- Supporting a foreign terrorist organization (ISIS)
- Using a weapon of mass destruction
- Bombing a public place
Ullah faced a maximum sentence of life in prison after the sentence date—April 5, 2019.
Behind the Bomb
Ullah had been radicalized since 2014, after moving to the U.S. in 2011. He spent months building a bomb out of metal screws, Christmas lights, and pipe. On the morning of the blast, he even posted a scathing Facebook note: “Trump you failed to protect your nation.”
Law enforcement found a chilling handwritten note at his apartment: “O America die in your rage.” The prosecutors said he purposely chose a weekday when the area would be crowded to maximize terror.
What Happened next?
He was caught on CCTV, walking through the subway terminal with the bomb strapped to him. He later told authorities, “I did it for the Islamic State.”
Professor Geoffrey Berman, the top U.S. federal prosecutor in Manhattan, summed it up: “Today, Ullah stands convicted. He faces a potential life sentence. New York City remains a shining symbol of freedom and hope.”
Unexpected Connections
Though a legal U.S. permanent resident, Ullah’s wife and son still live in Bangladesh—a nation grappling with its own extremism. The case reminds us that the fight against terrorism spans borders and families alike.
As the city calms back to its usual rhythm, the only lasting echo of that day stays in the headlines—one that underscores the unrelenting threat of radicalization and the importance of vigilant law enforcement.
