US bomber's journal tells of his desire for 'martyrdom'

A hand-written journal belonging to Ahmad Rahmani -- the man behind the bombings in New York and New Jersey -- speaks of his desire for "martyrdom" in the name of jihad, prosecutors say.

The blood-soaked document pierced by a bullet during the mayhem, was recovered in Linden, New Jersey, at the scene of a shootout between Rahmani and the police.

The Independent cited musings in the journal, which has been detailed in federal charges filed on Tuesday: "Inshallah [God willing] the sounds of the bombs will be heard in your streets. Gunshots to your police. Death to your oppression."

According to the criminal complaint by FBI special agent Peter Frederick Licata, Rahami was responsible for bombs constructed out of a pressure cooker and placed in Manhattan's Chelsea neighbourhood on Saturday, as well as pipe bombs in New Jersey's Seaside Park and Elizabeth, the Guardian reported.

The criminal complaint alleges that Rahami left copious fingerprints on one of two bombs in Manhattan, on 27th Street, as well as on materials in the backpack containing the Elizabeth bombs.

Review of surveillance footage near the other bomb location, on 23rd Street, found a positive identification of Rahami "pulling a small suitcase" two minutes before the detonation.

Adam B. Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Rahami wrote about the Boston Marathon bombings in a notebook he was carrying when he was arrested.

He referenced late Al Qaeda plotter Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born radical cleric whose online videos the Boston bombers had watched, Schiff added.

Rahmadi remains at University Hospital in Newark, recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg.

--IANS

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