3:00
- ABC News
- December 12, 2017
NYC attack 'could have been worse,' source says
One person is in custody, police said.
3:00
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/port-authority-explosion9-gty12-ht-mem-171211_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The explosion in the subway system -- ridden by 6 million people each day -- occurred at about 7:20 a.m.
Port Authority Police Department Officer Jack Collins, who was undercover at the time looking for children being trafficked at the bus terminal, apprehended Ullah, with the help of three other officers: Sean Gallagher, Anthony Manfredini and Drew Preston.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/port-authority-ht-er-171211_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Manfredini noticed alarmed commuters running from the suspect, who was already on the ground after having detonated the device, said Robert Egbert, a spokesman for the Port Authority police union.
The officers then reached the wounded suspect and saw what appeared to be wires coming out of his clothing, Egbert said. Ullah appeared to be reaching for a cellphone, Egbert said, and the officers held him at gunpoint and cuffed him after a brief struggle. The officers didn't fire their weapons, Egbert said.
On Monday evening, Port Authority Police Benevolent Association President Paul Nunziato praised the officers for their quick action. \"Those four guys are heroes,\" he told ABC news.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/police-dogs-1-nyc-explosion-ht-mem-171211_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Stay Safe! #newyorkcity @w42st #nygovernor #nycmayor at the corner having a press conference
A post shared by Shay Fu (@shayfu) on Dec 11, 2017 at 7:00am PST
New York City's mayor said this morning, \"Thank God the perpetrator did not achieve his ultimate goals.\"
There are no credible and specific threats against New York City at this time, officials said.
Ullah is not expected to be charged tonight but is set to eventually face terror-related federal charges, a law enforcement source said.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/port-authority-explosion8-gty-mem-171211_4x3t_384.jpg\")
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/port-authority-explosion6-ht-mem-171211_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The bus terminal was temporarily closed but has since reopened. Subway service was also disrupted, though trains are now stopping at 42nd Street, with delays.
De Blasio's press secretary took a photo of the mayor riding the subway this afternoon, writing, \"New Yorkers won’t be deterred.\"
Mayor on the uptown Q from 14th St. a few minutes ago. New Yorkers won’t be deterred. pic.twitter.com/6C2kJKmsvp
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) December 11, 2017
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement, “The Department of Homeland Security is taking appropriate action to protect our people and our country in the wake of today’s attempted terrorist attack.\"
\"We will continue to assist New York authorities with the response and investigation and we urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity,\" Nielsen said. \"More broadly, the administration continues to adopt significant security measures to keep terrorists from entering our country and from recruiting within our borders.\"
New York City has long been a target of terrorist attacks. Since Sept. 11, about 26 “plots” in New York City have been prevented, officials said this morning.
Today's explosion comes less than two months after a native of Uzbekistan plowed a truck into a crowd on a lower Manhattan bike path, killing eight. He was allegedly inspired by ISIS videos he'd watched on his cellphone.
President Donald Trump said in a statement that today's attack \"once again highlights the urgent need for Congress to enact legislative reforms to protect the American people.\"
\"America must fix its lax immigration system, which allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country,\" Trump said. \"Today’s terror suspect entered our country through extended-family chain migration, which is incompatible with national security. My executive action to restrict the entry of certain nationals from eight countries, which the Supreme Court recently allowed to take effect, is just one step forward in securing our immigration system. Congress must end chain migration.
\"Congress must also act on my administration’s other proposals to enhance domestic security, including increasing the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, enhancing the arrest and detention authorities for immigration officers, and ending fraud and abuse in our immigration system,\" he said.
Trump also added \"those convicted of engaging in acts of terror deserve the strongest penalty allowed by law, including the death penalty in appropriate cases. America should always stand firm against terrorism and extremism, ensuring that our great institutions can address all evil acts of terror.\"
ABC News' Joshua Hoyos contributed to this report.
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