UPDATE: Ahmad Khan Rahami, wanted in NYC, Seaside bombings arrested

ELIZABETH -- A 28-year-old Elizabeth man being sought by federal authorities in connection with weekend explosions in New Jersey and New York City worked in his family's restaurant, according to neighbors.

"I've been going there for years, and if he wasn't the son, he was a cousin or something," said Jessica Casanova, 23. "You see stuff like this on TV, with everything going on in the world, but it's crazy that it would happen right here, a couple blocks from where I live."

The man Casanova referred to, Ahmad Khan Rahami, is wanted for questioning and is considered armed and dangerous, the FBI said Monday morning.

Rahami, who was born in Afghanistan but is a United States citizen, has not yet been linked to a third explosion -- one that took place about a mile away from where he lived in Elizabeth at the Broad Street train station at about 12:40 a.m.

Casanova spoke not far from where the FBI, with assistance from Elizabeth and New Jersey State Police, are searching First American Fried Chicken at 104 Elmora Ave. and a residence above it.

Investigators were seen carrying boxes of items from the building at around 10 a.m. Monday. Two cars were also towed from the scene: a black Toyota sedan and a white four-door car.

Juan Ramos, 20, who lives less a few houses away on Linden Avenue, said the family kept to themselves but he sensed "nothing out of the ordinary."

Ramos said he was friends with the family that owns the chicken restaurant and apartment being searched. He said a family of at least six lived above the eatery.

"I've seen him around all the time," Ramos said of Rahami. He said he was friends with the son of the owner but didn't really know Rahami and was unsure how he was related to the family.

"I haven't seen him recently," Ramos said.

The 5-foot-6, 200-pound Rahami might be driving a 2003 Honda Civic with New Jersey license plates D63-EYB the FBI said.

Another local business owner, Marcella Perrotti of Short Cutz, said he didn't know Rahami, but said all the local business owners were close.

"It's disgusting what's going on," Perrotta said.

The Elmora Avenue residence is about a mile from where an improvised explosive device in a backpack detonated near the train station early Monday as authorities were using a bomb robot to examine the item, officials said.

The blast occurred around 12:40 a.m. near Morris Avenue and Julian Place. The explosion was not a controlled blast, but happened unintentionally as the robot was cutting the device, according to Mayor Christian Bollwage. No one was injured, Bollwage said.

Authorities found five devices inside a single backpack near the train station, including one that was detonated.

The Elizabeth incident unfolded after two men found the backpack in a waste basket on North Broad Street and Julian Place around 8 p.m. Sunday, the mayor said.

Dozens of commuters waited for trains to New York City on Monday morning at the Elizabeth train station. While most were anxious, the police presence at the station reassured some riders.

"I was very much concerned," Amon Weekes, 47, of Elizabeth said. "I'm just going to push forward with my every day plans."

Another rider said she wouldn't be kept from her daily routine. "It's unfortunate that stuff like this happens but we can't live our lives in fear," said Nicole Ocasio, 29, of Elizabeth, who has taken he train into New York for the last seven years.

"Life goes on," she added.

A Roselle Park man said he wasn't worried at all. "I trust the cops," said Manny Ignacio, 57.

"We can't protect ourselves from this kind of crazy," added Patricia Bobbic, 57 of Elizabeth.

A bomb-sniffing dog and officers checked garbage cans and a bike left chained up on the platform. After the dog inspected the area, police cut the chain and removed the bike.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Craig McCarthy, Rob Spahr, Jeff Goldman and Jessica Remo contributed to this report.