Accused Seaside Park Bomber To Be Tried In Union County: Report

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The trial of Ahmad Rahimi, accused of bombings in Seaside Park, Chelsea, New York and Elizabeth, will be held in Union County, a judge ruled, according to a report.

NJ.com reported Judge Karen Cassidy announced the decision April 19 over the opposition of Rahimi's defense attorney, Deputy Public Defender Peter Liguori. Liguori sought to have the trial moved from Union County, arguing media coverage of the incident would prejudice potential jurors against Rahimi.

Rahimi, a 28-year-old naturalized United States citizen, is facing charges stemming from a Sept. 17 pipe bomb explosion in a trash can at 5K charity run for Marine Corps veterans in Seaside Park and a Chelsea explosion later that day, as well as five explosive devices found near Elizabeth train station on Sept. 18.

He also is charged with five counts of attempted murder following a shootout on Sept. 19 with police that sent two Linden officers to the hospital. Rahimi was arrested later that day.

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No trial date has been set but lawyers believe it will occur in 2018, the nj.com report said.

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Photos via FBI, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office