Jury finds Akayed Ullah guilty of New York attack

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Brajesh Upadhyay, Washington
Published : 08:20, Nov 07, 2018 | Updated : 08:24, Nov 07, 2018

Akayed UllahA Bangladeshi immigrant accused of a pipe bomb explosion near a subway station in New York last year was found guilty on all charges by a jury at the Manhattan federal court on Tuesday (Nov 6).
Akayed Ullah, a 28-year-old former cab driver from Brooklyn, faces up to life in prison for the attack.
Five people sustained minor injuries after the bomb went off at the busy public-transit hub, but Ullah’s lawyer insisted that her client never intended to kill or maim anyone other than himself, and that the improvised bomb in his backpack detonated prematurely.
Ullah was charged with providing support to a foreign terrorist organisation (ISIS), use of a weapon of mass destruction, bombing a place of public use, destruction of public property by means of fire or explosive, terrorist attack against mass transportation systems and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The jury found him guilty on all six charges including the one that he was acting on behalf of the Islamic State or ISIS. Ullah’s lawyers had argued that he had no connection with ISIS and that he was a “depressed and unsound” man.
According to the Court House News, Ullah briefly yelled at the judge about not being part of “the ISIS group” and attempted to clarify his Facebook post directed at Donald trump from the day of the attack. The judge, however, advised Ullah that he will have a chance to make a statement at his sentencing.
During the trial, jurors were shown surveillance video of Ullah leaving his home, getting onto the subway and finally getting burned when his bomb went off. Ullah was seen splayed on the ground as police officers approached with guns drawn.
The verdict came on Election Day in America and the government’s attorney Geoffrey S Burman issued a statement to the US media saying, “it 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,” said the statement.
Ullah had been living in the US on a Green Card and moved to New York from Bangladesh on a visa sponsored by his uncle, under a policy referred to as chain migration. His uncle had got a visa through the lottery system.

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