The suspect in the New York-area bombings over the weekend was charged by federal prosecutors Tuesday evening for crimes including the use of weapons of mass destruction. The new charges from the Justice Department are in addition to five counts of attempted murder after a shootout with police officers Monday afternoon.
The Southern District of New York has also charged Ahmad Khan Rahami with bombing a place of public use, destruction of property by means of fire or explosive and use of a destructive device during and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The Afghan immigrant was arrested in Linden, N.J., after law enforcement officials discovered him sleeping in a bar doorway. He is being held on a $5.2 million bond and remains hospitalized for injuries sustained during the shootout with police, which left two officers wounded.
Tri-state authorities cited fingerprints and surveillance video at the Manhattan bombing scene as being key to their investigation and the quick capture of the suspect. It is not clear whether Rahami has received a defense lawyer yet.
