Man accused of bombings, N.J. cop shootings pleads not guilty

ELIZABETH, N.J. — A New Jersey man accused of planting bombs in September in New York and New Jersey that injured more than 30 people pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state charges that included five counts of attempted murder.

Ahmad Khan Rahimi of Elizabeth, N.J., was arraigned in Union County Superior Court here after being indicted in connection with shooting at five officers Sept.19 as he was being captured in waking of the bombings.

In November, a federal grand jury in Manhattan indicted Rahimi in connection with detonating a bomb Sept. 17 in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood. He has also been charged in New Jersey in connection with pipe bomb explosions Sept. 16 in Seaside Park and undetonated explosives found near a New Jersey Transit station Sept. 18 in Elizabeth.

Police in Linden, N.J., arrested Rahimi after a shootout where he is accused of injuring multiple officers before being shot himself. When Rahimi was arrested, police found his journal, which authorities say mentions explosive devices and contains references to al-Qaeda, among other things.

Two officers were wounded in the shootout with Rahimi. Accounts from the scene said that Rahimi fired his pistol indiscriminately when officers approached him.

Rahimi previously was arraigned on the state attempted-murder charges in October via a Skype connection from his bed at University Hospital in Newark, N.J.

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