#U.S. OCTOBER 2, 2017 / 12:17 PM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

Accused 'Chelsea bomber' removed from New York courtroom as trial begins

Brendan Pierson
3 MIN READ

(Reuters) - Ahmad Khan Rahimi, the man accused of setting off bombs in New York City and New Jersey in September 2016 and wounding 30 people, was temporarily removed from a Manhattan courtroom after trying to address the court without permission just as his trial was about to start.

Rahimi, 29, who has pleaded not guilty to charges including using a weapon of mass destruction, stood and began to speak shortly after jurors entered the room to hear lawyers’ opening arguments, refusing to sit down when ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman. He was escorted from the room by U.S. marshals and remained outside as a prosecutor delivered her opening statement.

After that statement, with jurors out of the room, Rahimi came back and told Berman he had wanted to complain that his brother and three children had recently lost the right to visit him, and his wife had never been allowed to visit. He said prison officials had not explained why.

“I have kept quiet for the entire year,” Rahimi said.

Berman reprimanded Rahimi for talking out of turn, but said he would investigate.

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