New Jersey prosecutors said Tuesday they won’t offer accused Chelsea bomber Ahmad Khan Rahimi any deals on attempted murder charges stemming from his shootout with arresting officers.
Rahimi, 28, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in an Elizabeth courtroom, where he’s facing five counts of attempted murder for the violent Sept. 19 gun battle with New Jersey cops.
“The people do not intend to extend a plea offer,” first assistant prosecutor Ann Luvera told the judge. “Since there is no plea being extended we would ask to move to trial as soon as possible.”
Rahimi limped into his appearance before Union County Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield.
Court officers had to hold up Rahimi by both arms. He struggled just to take one step up into the jury box where he sat for the brief hearing.
Rahimi, who didn’t utter a word during the arraignment, was shackled by his legs and wrists and was wearing a white hat and a black bulletproof vest.
Security was noticeably tight throughout the state courthouse.
Rahimi is also facing federal charges in Manhattan for bombs that went off in Seaside Park, NJ, and Chelsea.
Rahimi allegedly placed a pressure-cooker bomb inside a dumpster on West 23rd Street on Sept. 17 that went off and injured more than 30 people. Another bomb, which didn’t detonate, was found on West 27th Street and tied to Rahimi.
He’s also accused of placing a pipe bomb that went off along the route for the Marine Corps Charity race in Seaside on hours before the Chelsea bombing. No one was injured in that incident.
Two days after the bombings, cops found Rahami sleeping in the doorway of an Elizabeth bar, authorities said.
When they woke him, Rahami allegedly pulled a gun and shot an officer, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, police said. Rahami wounded another cop and aimed at three more before his capture, officials said.
Rahimi is set to appear in the Elizabeth courtroom again on Feb. 28.
Defense lawyer Peter Liguori declined comment after the hearing.