Bombing suspect charged as law enforcement remain on heightened alert

Ahmad Khan Rahami who is believed to be behind the bombings in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City and in Seaside Park, New Jersey is now facing attempted murder charges following his capture on Monday.

He was charged in Union County with five counts of attempted murder of a police officer. He was being held on $5.2 million bail and remained at a hospital. Authorities say two Linden officers were wounded trying to arrest Rahami. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Although police believe Rahami may also be behind the five pipe bombs found near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The city’s mayor, Chris Bollwage, says they’re still trying to confirm if the explosives match those in New York City. As a result one of the bombs will be tested. “We have taken that device, rendered it safe, and shipped it to Quantico, Virginia (FBI headquarters) to be compared with other explosive devices which have been recovered in the New York City area in the past week.”

In New Jersey Governor Christie said today that law enforcement is taking extra steps to ensure the public is safe. “We’ve inspected and swept all of the New Jersey Transit stations on the Northeast corridor. We’re working with the Port Authority police on all the Path stations and tunnels. All of the things that need to be done to make that our commuting public is kept safe, we’re doing,” Christie said.

In Philadelphia. Mayor Jim Kenny says police are on heightened alert following the bombings and the shooting spree by a gunman Friday night that targeted a Philadelphia police officer. In that incident a gunman shot and wounded a police officer in her car in West Philadelphia before fleeing and randomly shooting at people leaving five people wounded and killing a 25-year-old woman.

SEPTA Police Chief Tom Nestel says riders need to make sure if they see something out of the ordinary they call 9-1-1. He says vigilance has already paid off since the bomb near a train station in Elizabeth was reported to police and removed before it could hurt people.

Tom MacDonald, Phil Gregory and Ang Santos and the Associated Press contributed to this story