An emergency system intended to alert people, via cellphone, about weather advisories or abducted children was used for the first time in New York City to aid in the manhunt for a criminal suspect.
The “electronic wanted poster,” as The New York Times called it Monday, sought the public’s help in tracking down Ahmad Khan Rahami, a 28-year-old suspect in bombings that took place in Manhattan and New Jersey.
The message from the nation’s Wireless Emergency Alerts system, is targeted to a cellphone’s location and was probably received by millions of people nearly at once, the Times said. It read: “WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-yr-old male. See media for pic. Call 9-1-1 if seen.”
Emergency alert to cell phones here about NY/NJ bombings suspect. pic.twitter.com/vNBRJ8Zais
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) September 19, 2016
FBI confirms Ahmad Khan Rahami has been #captured in Linden, NJ @FBINewark @NewYorkFBI https://t.co/GpWPwXu478 pic.twitter.com/fMKSTj75h2
— FBI (@FBI) September 19, 2016
WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, in connection to the Chelsea explosion. Call #800577TIPS with any information. pic.twitter.com/5NSuqSZaUJ
— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) September 19, 2016
Suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami 'undergoing surgery' after being shot in the leg https://t.co/oVKBOu4N75 pic.twitter.com/7ujttbBPe0
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 19, 2016
Rahami, suspected in a bombing in the Chelsea neighborhood that injured 29 people on Saturday, was taken into custody Monday after a gunfight with police in Linden, N.J.
The alert system is generally used for three types of alerts: to warn people about storms and other threats to public safety; to broadcast Amber Alerts for abducted children; and for messages from the president.
A spokesman for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told the Times that Monday’s alert was “a first” for such a purpose.
