Heroes Who Found, Defused Elizabeth Bombs and Arrested Suspected Terrorist To Be Honored

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The people and agencies responsible for finding and defusing pipe bombs and the arrest of Ahmad Khan Rahami, will be honored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Thursday.

Rahami has been charged in connection with the Elizabeth bombs on Sept. 19. The discovery followed a pipe bomb explosion in a trash can at a charity 5K run for armed services veterans in Seaside Park on Saturday.

Another attack happened later on Saturday on a street-corner in the busy Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The explosion sent shrapnel flying into pedestrians Saturday night, injuring at least 29 people, including one person believed to be in serious condition, authorities said.

The public is invited to attend as a presentation honoring their efforts begins around 7 p.m. at the Freeholder Chambers on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza.

Those who will be honored include:

• The two men — Lee Parker and Ivan White — who found the suspicious backpack in Elizabeth containing the pipe bombs and then reported it to Elizabeth police;
• Harinder Bains, the Linden bar/deli owner who reported the suspect wanted in connection with the pipe bombs;
• and the two Linden Police officers, Angel Padilla and Peter Hammer, who apprehended the suspect in connection with the incident.

Other agencies who will be honored include:

• The Union County Bomb Squad, which safely handled the pipe bombs;
• The Union County Police who responded to the scene where the pipe bombs were discovered and also to the scene of the apprehension in Linden;
• The Union County Sheriff’s K-9 Squad, which was responded to the scene of the pipe bombs and was used throughout the area and incident;
• The Linden Police department as a whole unit for their role in the apprehension;
• The Elizabeth Police and Fire Departments as a whole which responded to the pipe bomb incident and notified all other agencies.

“As you can see, there was no shortage of civic and law enforcement heroes who stepped up and responded to ensure the safety of our County as a whole,” stated Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “We look forward to honoring them all.”

The Freeholder Meeting room is located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth. Parking is available in the J. Christian Bollwage Parking deck at the corner of Elizabethtown Plaza and E. Jersey Street.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.