Ahmad Khan Rahami's Father Warned FBI of Son's Radicalization in 2014: Source

NEW YORK, NY — Ahmed Khan Rahami, the suspect in several bomb attacks in New York and New Jersey, came on the FBI’s radar two years ago after his father notified the Bureau of concerns, according to a law enforcement source. The source was confirming statements made by Rahami’s father to reporters on Tuesday morning.

The source says that Rahami’s father called the FBI some time after Rahami returned from nearly one year in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Law enforcement sources say that it was while on that trip that Rahami tried to get a visa for his wife — a Pakistani woman whom he had married in 2011. These sources say she was pregnant at the time and that he was told she could not enter the United States until after the baby was born, which is what happened.

These sources say that his wife left the United States last week. They believe that she was headed back to Pakistan. One of the sources said that she was detained yesterday in United Arab Emirates and was being questioned by officials there. The source could not say if American law enforcement was involved in the questioning.

Meanwhile, back in the United States, the investigation continues into Rahami’s movements. One source not authorized to talk about the investigation publicly said searches of the building where Rahami lived have not turned up bomb-making materials.

Investigators are also poring over a notebook Rahami had on him when he was shot. The notebook, which had a bullet hole supposedly from Rahami’s shootout with law enforcement, contained references to the Boston Marathon bombing and fiery cleric, Anwar Al-Awlwaki.

Reporting by Colin Miner/Patch

Photo Credit: Union County Prosecutor's Office