Akayed Ullah: 5 Things To Know About Port Authority Suspected Bomber

An explosion from an apparent pipe bomb detonated near the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City during rush hour Monday morning, and a suspect has been taken into custody.

Shortly before 8 a.m. ET, police said a blast was reported at the Port Authority bus and subway station in Midtown.

- Ullah lives in Brooklyn and is of Bangladeshi descent, two law enforcement sources said.

A man has now been reportedly arrested following the explosion. The official said the suspect waived his rights to counsel before speaking with investigators. The suspect had burns and lacerations while three other people, including a police officer, sustained minor injuries.

Police said he had a crude improvised device attached to his body using Velcro and zip ties and said video shows him walking down the passageway when the device exploded. All of the injuries were non-life-threatening, according to the Fire Department of NY.

The A, C and E subway lines were being evacuated, Sgt. Brendan Ryan told HuffPost.

Police told HuffPost they were unsure whether the reported explosion was inside the Port Authority building or the subway system.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident an "attempted terrorist attack", while Police Commissioner James O'Neill called it a "terror-related incident". "Info is preliminary, more when available", it tweeted.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, so far the White House has not released a statement.

"Through incredibly good fortune, his bomb did not seriously injure anyone other than himself", acting US Attorney for the Southern District Joon Kim said Tuesday. "The reality turns out to be better than the initial expectation and fear", said New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.

"I heard boom and saw smoke and we all started running up the steps", Bethea said.

The incident comes a few weeks after a deadly terror attack in Lower Manhattan.

Officials said the attempted bombing underscored New York City's status as a target for such attacks, citing the attacks of September 11, 2001, which killed more than 2,750 people in New York and almost 3,000 people in all, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six people.