New York, New Jersey Bombing Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Ahmad Khan Rahimi was arraigned from his hospital bed.

ByABC News
October 13, 2016, 2:21 PM

— -- A man accused of planting bombs in New Jersey and New York City and then engaging police in a shootout was arraigned from his hospital bed today on weapons and attempted murder charges.

Ahmad Khan Rahimi, 28, pleaded not guilty today to seven charges in connection to the New Jersey incidents: handgun possession and attempted murder of five officers.

Rahimi appeared at the arraignment -- his first court appearance -- via video, from his hospital bed. He sat upright in a green gown under a blanket. He has been in a New Jersey hospital since he was injured during the police shootout in Linden on Sept. 19. His public defender, Peter Liguori, was also in the hospital room.

Some Linden, New Jersey, police officers were present at the arraignment, including some of the injured officers.

Bail was set at $5.2 million.

Rahimi is suspected of leaving explosive devices in New Jersey and Manhattan the weekend before his Sept. 19 capture. No one was injured in New Jersey, but the Manhattan blast went off on a busy street on a Saturday night and sent debris flying through the air and pedestrians running down the street, leaving 31 people injured.

PHOTO: Ahmad Khan Rahami is taken into custody after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey, Sept. 19, 2016.
Ahmad Khan Rahami is taken into custody after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey, Sept. 19, 2016.

In addition to the charges of attempted murder and handgun possession, Rahimi faces federal charges of using weapons of mass destruction for allegedly planting the bombs in Seaside Park, Elizabeth and Chelsea. He has not yet entered a plea to those charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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