Sikh who led cops to bomber

A Sikh man in the US is being hailed as a hero for helping the police capture an “armed and dangerous” Afghan-born American wanted for the weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey that injured 29 people.

Harinder Bains, the owner of a bar in Linden found 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami sleeping in the doorway of a bar he owns. Mr Bains said he was watching news on TV on his laptop from another business across the street.

At first, he thought he was some “drunk guy” resting in the vestibule but then recognised Rahami and called the police. “I’m just a regular citizen doing what every citizen should do. Cops are the real heroes, law enforcement are the real heroes,” Mr Bains said.

When officers responded, Rahami pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking an officer in the chest. A foot chase ensued, during which Rahami shot at a police car, causing a bullet to graze another office in the face. The chase ended when Rahami was shot multiple times. He was taken to a hospital for surgery. Rahami was not initially cooperative with the police who tried to interview him, a law enforcement official said.

Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra said that Mr Bains “dared to honour his Oath of Citizenship to protect and defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic — and it’s turns out that the Chelsea Pressure Cooker Bomber suspect, a naturalised citizen, is caught by another immigrant, an Indian-American Hero-Sikh.” In a statement, the National Sikh Campaign said this was brave and courageous act by Mr Bains. “A Sikh helps the police get to the terrorist involved in New York and New Jersey bombing over the weekend,” it said.