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ഭീകരപ്രവര്‍ത്തനം നടത്തിയ ബംഗ്ലാദേശിയുടെ കുടുംബം നാടുകടത്തല്‍ ഭീഷണിയില്‍

Published on 01 December, 2019
ഭീകരപ്രവര്‍ത്തനം നടത്തിയ ബംഗ്ലാദേശിയുടെ കുടുംബം നാടുകടത്തല്‍ ഭീഷണിയില്‍
ന്യൂയോര്‍ക്ക്: 2017-ല്‍ ന്യൂയോര്‍ക്ക് സബ് വേ സ്റ്റേഷനില്‍ പൈപ്പ് ബോംബ് സ്‌ഫോടനം നടത്താന്‍ ശ്രമിച്ച ബംഗ്ലാദേശുകാരന്‍ അകയെദുല്ലായുടെ കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങള്‍ നാടു കടത്തല്‍ ഭീഷണിയില്‍. ഇവരില്‍ ഒരാളൊഴികെ മറ്റെല്ലാവരും ഗ്രീന്‍ കാര്‍ഡ് ഉള്ളവരാണ്.

അകയേദിനും, 28, ഗ്രീന്‍ കാര്‍ഡ് ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ഇപ്പോള്‍ ജീവപര്യന്തം ശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു.

ബ്രൂക്ക്‌ലിനില്‍ താമസിക്കുന്ന കുടുംബത്തിലെ അഞ്ച് അംഗങ്ങളാണ് നാടുകടത്തല്‍ ഭീഷണിയില്‍. തങ്ങള്‍ ഒരു കുറ്റകൃത്യവും ചെയ്തിട്ടില്ലെന്നും നിയമപരമായി ബംഗ്ലാദേശില്‍ നിന്ന് യുഎസിലേക്ക് കുടിയേറിയവരാണെന്നും അവര്‍ പറയുന്നു.

സബ് വേ സ്റ്റേഷനിലെ സ്‌ഫോടനം വിജയിച്ചില്ല. അകയ്ദിന് പരുക്കേല്‍ക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. കൈയ്യിലും അടിവയറ്റിലും പൊള്ളലേറ്റു (see photo above).

ഈ ആക്രമണവുമായി തങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് യാതൊരു ബന്ധവുമില്ലെന്നും കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങള്‍ ഏതെങ്കിലും തെറ്റ് ചെയ്തതായി തെളിഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ലെന്നും  കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങള്‍ പറയുന്നു.

കുടുംബാംഗം അഹ്‌സാനുല്ലക്ക്, 32, പൗരത്വം റദ്ദാക്കാന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ചതായി അറിയിപ്പ് ലഭിച്ചിരുന്നു. പൗരത്വം നിയമപരമായല്ല ലഭിച്ചതെന്നാണ് കാരണം പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നത് . അയാളെ കഴിഞ്ഞ മാസം ന്യൂജേഴ്‌സിയിലെ കെര്‍നിയിലുള്ള ഇമിഗഷ്രേന്‍ ആന്‍ഡ് കസ്റ്റംസ് എന്‍ഫോഴ്‌സ്‌മെന്റ് (ഐസിഇ) നാലാഴ്ച തടങ്കലില്‍ വെച്ചിരുന്നു.

'എന്റെ കുട്ടിക്കാലം മുതല്‍ ഞാന്‍ അമേരിക്കയിലുണ്ട്. എന്റെ സ്‌കൂള്‍,  കോളേജ്,  കുടുംബം,  ബിസിനസ്സ്,  സുഹൃത്തുക്കള്‍, എന്റെ എല്ലാം ഇവിടെ. മാതൃകാ പൗരനാകാനാണ് ഞാന്‍ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത്, പിന്നെ എന്തിന് എന്നെ തടങ്കലില്‍ വെയ്ക്കണം?' അദ്ദേഹം ചോദിക്കുന്നു. 

ഒരാള്‍ കുറ്റം ചെയ്തതിന് എന്തിനാണ് കുടുംബത്തെ മുഴുവന്‍ ശിക്ഷിക്കുന്നത്? ഭീകരത ആരോപിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന ഒരു വ്യക്തിയുടെ അതേ ഡിഎന്‍എ പങ്കിട്ടതിനുള്ള പ്രതികാരമാണിത്- അഹ്‌സാന്‍ പറയുന്നു.

അഹ്‌സാന്റെ കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് അവരുടെ ഗ്രീന്‍ കാര്‍ഡുകള്‍ റദ്ദ് ചെയ്യുമെന്ന അറിയിപ്പു ലഭിച്ചു. നവംബര്‍ ആറിന് അഹ്‌സന്റെ അമ്മയെയും സഹോദരിയെയും രണ്ട് ദിവസത്തേക്ക് ഡിഎച്ച്എസ് കസ്റ്റഡിയിലെടുത്തിരുന്നു.

ഞങ്ങള്‍ ഈ രാജ്യത്തെ സ്‌നേഹിക്കുന്നു-അഹ്‌സന്റെ 22 കാരിയായ സഹോദരി അഫിയ പറഞ്ഞു. 

Akayed Ullah Convicted for Detonation of a Bomb in New York City

Akayed Ullah, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, and a lawful permanent resident from Bangladesh, was convicted today on all six counts of the Indictment, which charged him with offenses related to the detonation and attempted detonation of a bomb in a subway station near the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City on Dec. 11, 2017.  Ullah, who faces a possible sentence of life in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2019, by the Honorable Richard J. Sullivan, who presided over the one-week trial. 

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York made the announcement.

“Less than a year ago, Ullah constructed a pipe bomb and detonated it in a mass transit hub in the heart of New York City to harm and terrorize as many people as possible, all on behalf of ISIS.  His crime reminds us that the threat of radical Islamist terrorism remains real,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers.  “This guilty verdict holds Ullah accountable, and he faces a potential life term in federal prison for his crimes. I want to thank all the agents and prosecutors whose outstanding work made this result possible.”

“Late last year, Akayed Ullah detonated a bomb during the bustle of morning rush hour under the Port Authority Bus Terminal,” said U.S. Attorney Berman.  “Ullah’s sinister purpose was to harm and terrorize as many innocent people in his path as possible, by using deadly violence to make a political statement.  Ullah’s conviction by a unanimous jury of New Yorkers falls on Election Day, which fittingly underscores the core principles of American democracy and spirit:  Americans engage in the political process through votes, not violence.  Today, Ullah stands convicted, he faces a potential life sentence, and his purpose failed.  New York City remains a shining symbol of freedom and hope.”

As set forth in the Complaint, Indictment, and the evidence presented at trial:

Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham 

ISIS is a foreign terrorist organization based in the Middle East and Africa whose publicly stated purpose is the establishment of an Islamic state or caliphate based in the Middle East and Africa that encompasses all Muslims worldwide.  ISIS has pursued the objective of an Islamic state through, among other things, killing and deliberate targeting of civilians, mass executions, persecution of individuals and communities on the basis of their religion, nationality, or ethnicity, kidnapping of civilians, forced displacement of Shia communities and minority groups, killing and maiming of children, rape, and other forms of sexual violence.  ISIS has recruited thousands of foreign fighters from across the globe to assist with its efforts to expand its so-called caliphate in Iraq, Syria, and other locations in Africa and the Middle East, and has leveraged technology to spread its violent extremist ideology and for incitement to commit terrorist acts. 

The Dec. 11, 2017 Attack

On Dec. 11, 2017, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Akayed Ullah detonated an improvised explosive device (“IED”) inside a subway terminal (the “Subway Terminal”) in or around the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal located at West 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue in New York, New York (the “December 11 Attack”).  Shortly after the blast, members of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (“PAPD”) located Ullah lying on the ground in the vicinity of the explosion.  Surveillance footage captured Ullah walking through the Subway Terminal and detonating his IED. 

Ullah was taken into custody by law enforcement.  During the course of Ullah’s arrest, law enforcement officers located on his person and in the surrounding area what appeared to be the components of an exploded pipe bomb (the “Pipe Bomb”).  Specifically, law enforcement located, among other items, (i) a nine-volt battery inside Ullah’s pants pocket; (ii) wires connected to the battery and running underneath Ullah’s jacket; (iii) two plastic zip ties underneath Ullah’s jacket; (iv) several fragments of a metal pipe, including pieces of a metal end cap, on the ground; (v) the remnants of what appeared to be a Christmas tree lightbulb attached to wires; (vi) metal screws; and (vii) pieces of what appear to be plastic zip ties, among other items.

After Ullah was taken into custody, he was transferred to Bellevue Hospital, where he made statements to law enforcement officers after waiving his Miranda rights.  During that interview, Ullah stated, among other things, the following:  

Ullah constructed the Pipe Bomb and carried out the Dec. 11 Attack.  Ullah was inspired by ISIS to carry out the Dec. 11 Attack, and stated, among other things, “I did it for the Islamic State.”

Ullah constructed the Pipe Bomb at his residence in Brooklyn (“the Residence”).

The Pipe Bomb was composed of a metal pipe, which Ullah filled with explosive material that he created.  Ullah used Christmas tree lights, wires, and a nine-volt battery as a trigger to detonate the Pipe Bomb.  Ullah filled the Pipe Bomb with metal screws, which he believed would cause maximum damage.  Ullah used zip ties to secure the Pipe Bomb to his body.

Ullah carried out the Dec. 11 Attack in part because of the United States Government’s policies in, among other places, the Middle East.  One of Ullah’s goals in carrying out the Dec. 11 Attack was to terrorize as many people as possible.  He chose to carry out the attack on a work day because he believed that there would be more people present.

Ullah’s radicalization began no later than approximately 2014.  Ullah viewed pro-ISIS materials online, including a video instructing, in substance, that if supporters of ISIS were unable to travel overseas to join ISIS, they should carry out attacks in their homelands.  He began researching how to build IEDs on the Internet approximately one year prior to the attack.

On the morning of Dec. 11, 2017, shortly before carrying out the attack, Ullah posted a statement on his Facebook account referring to the President of the United States, stating, in substance, “Trump you failed to protect your nation.”  Ullah also posted a statement that he believed would be understood by members and supporters of ISIS to convey that Ullah carried out the attack in the name of ISIS.

Items Recovered from Ullah’s Residence

On Dec. 11, 2017, law enforcement agents searched the Residence pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant.  Law enforcement agents recovered, among other items, (i) multiple pieces of metal pipes; (ii) pieces of wire and fragments of what appear to be Christmas tree lights; (iii) multiple screws consistent with the screws recovered at the scene of the Dec. 11 Attack; and (iv) a passport in Ullah’s name with multiple handwritten notations, including: “O AMERICA, DIE IN YOUR RAGE.” 

 *                     *                      *

Ullah was convicted of one count of provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of using and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of bombing and attempting to bomb a place of public use, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of destruction of property by means of fire or explosives, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, namely, the use and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 30 years in prison and potential maximum of life, all in connection with Ullah’s alleged detonation of an explosive device in New York City.

 The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by Judge Sullivan. 

Mr. Demers and Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the FBI, the NYPD, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and the PAPD.  Ullah’s conviction is the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force – which consists of law enforcement officers of the FBI, NYPD, HSI, PAPD, and other agencies – and the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn G. Crowley, Rebekah Donaleski, and George D. Turner of the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jerome J. Teresinski of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

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