Sikh Hero Helps Capture Ahmad Rahami Wanted for New York Bombing

The Sikh owner of a bar in Linden found Ahmad Khan Rahami sleeping in the doorway of his bar on Monday.

Manhattan bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami. (Photo: AP)

A Sikh bar owner in the United States is being hailed as a hero for helping capture the 28-year-old Afghan-American wanted for the weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey.

Harinder Bains, the owner of a bar in Linden, found Ahmad Khan Rahami sleeping in the doorway of his establishment on Monday.

At first, he thought he was some “drunk guy” resting in the vestibule but then recognised Rahami and called police.

I’m just a regular citizen doing what every citizen should do. Cops are the real heroes, law enforcement are the real heroes.

Harinder Bains

When officers responded, Rahami pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking an officer in the chest. A foot chase ensued, during which Rahami shot at a police car, causing a bullet to graze another office in the face.

The chase ended when Rahami was shot multiple times. He was taken to a hospital for surgery. He was not initially cooperative with police who tried to interview him, a law enforcement official said.

Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra said:

Bains dared to honour his Oath of Citizenship to protect the Constitution from enemies – and it turns out that the Chelsea pressure-cooker bomb suspect, a naturalised citizen, is caught by another immigrant, an Indian-American hero Sikh.

In a statement, the National Sikh Campaign hailed it a brave and courageous act by Bains.

(With inputs from PTI)