On Saturday, September 17, twenty-nine people were injured in a bomb explosion in Chelsea, Manhattan around 8:30 that night. The blast occurred on West 23^rd Street in front of a residence building for the blind. In the midst of the crowded area were restaurants and a Trader Joe’s. Luckily, all 29 victims were released from the hospital Sunday morning said Governor Andrew Cuomo in a news conference.

The explosion seemed to have come from a construction toolbox. Later a second device was discovered about four blocks from the original scene. It looks like a pressure cooker attached to a wiring and cell phone according to police. The second device on West 27^th Street was removed successfully with a robot and is currently being investigated by bomb squad at an NYPD firing range located in the Bronx.

The Chelsea Explosion occurred hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey that was ahead of a 5K charity run to support Marines and sailors. The race had been cancelled and thankfully there were no injuries. A backpack of bombs had also been found in a wastebasket Sunday night in Elizabeth, N. J. and as bomb technicians sent out a robot to examine the devices one of the bombs had detonated.

Now the major question: are the two bombings related?

Originally on Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that the two bombings appeared unrelated because the bomb used in New Jersey was different than the one that was used in Chelsea and that there was no “specific evidence” connecting the two, but called it an “intentional act,” with no evidence of it being part of “international terrorism” since terrorist groups such as ISIS have not claimed responsibility.

After authorities continued the investigation which included the possibility of a connection, they identified Ahmad Khan Rahami through a fingerprint on Sunday and arrested him on Monday, September 19. Evidence from the cell phone and pressure cooker had also identified him. He was “directly linked” to both blasts. He was charged with five accounts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. Mayor de Blasio later stated, “We have every reason to believe this was an act of terror.”Although there hasn't been much indication, investigations are still continuing to see if Rahami had any accomplices, but authorities believe that the “main guy” behind the explosions has been caught.

Through the criminal complaint filed in federal court it was revealed that Rahami was inspired by extremist Islamic philosophy as well as taking ideas from Osama bin Laden and other terrorists. An official said that when Rahami was captured he had a notebook. In it he documented screeds against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and wrote about the “killing the kuffar” or unbelievers. He admired people like Anwar al-Awlaki who is the leading propagandist of Al Qaeda.

Now there is an even bigger NYPD presence—“bigger than every” Mayor de Blasio said. On Monday President Obama said that now “we have a role to play as citizens” by making sure we do not give way to fear and referring to the people in the region “They don’t get scared…That’s the kind of strength that makes me proud to be an American. And that’s the kind of strength that is going to be absolutely critical, not just in the days to come, but in the years to come.”