Police Commissioner James O'Neill stands with Mayor Bill de Blasio as he holds up a picture of Ahmad Khan Rahami at a news conference Monday. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images After bombings suspect's arrest, New York officials leave questions unanswered

Did he act alone? What is his motivation? Why wasn’t he on anyone’s radar?

The apprehension of Ahmad Khan Rahami, a 28-year-old New Jersey man, in connection to the explosion that injured 29 people in Chelsea and another in New Jersey's Seaside Park this weekend brings nearly as many questions as answers in a terrorism case that again exposed fissures between the mayor and the governor, and dominated the news cycle just 50 days before the presidential election.


“Now,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference in NYPD headquarters Monday afternoon, “We have every reason to believe this was an act of terror.” Citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, de Blasio and security officials did not elaborate on what enabled them to make that determination. Over the weekend, the mayor described the explosion as an “intentional act” and said “We do not see a link to terrorism.”

On Monday, de Blasio would only say, “We have a lot more information that is coming in all the time.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who has has feuded with the mayor and operated independently of him during emergencies — said over the weekend that the explosion of a device on a New York City street “obviously” was terrorism.

The governor did not attend the Monday press conference. De Blasio said Cuomo was invited to participate in the conference and the mayor did not offer an explanation for his absence.

Cuomo spokesperson Dani Lever in a statement said, "The Governor, the Mayor, their staffs, and state and local law enforcement worked hand in glove on a highly effective effort with federal and New Jersey authorities that concluded with the arrest of the suspect this afternoon. To suggest that either the Governor or the Mayor should have jointly attended every appearance - especially on short notice - is a stretch to create something negative and political on a day of great success."

NYPD Chief of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said labeling an incident “terrorism” only happens after officials know the identity of a suspect, and his or her motives.

“In understanding how to reach a terrorism charge in a criminal investigation,” Miller said at the press conference, “you have to understand the difference between a bomb going off on a street in New York City is a terrifying act, whether that’s an act of terrorism requires that you find out who did it, which is something that we didn’t know in the early stages of yesterday, and then why they did it, in order to reach the statutory requirements.” Miller — who has covered terrorism as a federal official, police official and reporter — added, “the basic definition of terrorism on the federal law side is the use of fear, violence or intimidation or the threat of, to achieve political or social change.”

Rahami was apprehended by police officers Monday in Linden, N.J. He and two New Jersey officers were injured during the confrontation. Because the investigation is ongoing, officials declined to release many details about what led them to Rahami.

William Sweeney, Jr., a special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York office, said at the conference that he did "not plan" to give details about techniques or the specific devices used in the bombings.

Rahami is the only person in custody and officials are not searching for accomplices.

Members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force stopped a vehicle near that Verazzano Bridge in Bridge and questioned the five male occupants Sunday night, but did not arrest them, Sweeney said. “That vehicle had been observed by JTTF personnel at a location associated with Rahami,” said Sweeney, Jr.

“I have no indication that there is [terrorist] cell operating in the area or in the city,” said Sweeney, before adding, “The investigation is ongoing.”

As for Rahami, "There is nothing to indicate that he was on our radar," said Sweeney. He also declined to discuss what connection Rahami may have with any terrorist organization. NYPD officials have often classified terrorist attacks as being either "directed" by groups — where, usually, a high level of training, coordination and sophisticated planning takes place — or "inspired" by broadly disseminated information.

Asked about a possible motivation, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said, “We don’t have that yet.”

Immediately after the explosion on Saturday, theories (nearly all unfounded) emerged, drawing in what little information was available. Some pointed to the location of the bombing, in an area home to many LGBTQ residents and businesses, or to the area's transportation hub. Others looked to the coming United Nations General Assembly meetings, or a potential targeting of O'Neill's first full day on the job.

In a television appearance on Monday morning, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said law enforcement officials here should “profile” residents in order to prevent terrorist attacks.

“In Israel they profile. They’ve done an unbelievable job, as good as you can do,” Trump said on Fox News. “Do we have a choice? Look what’s going on. Do we really have a choice? We’re trying to be so politically correct in our country and this is only going to get worse. This isn’t going to get better. And I’ve been talking to you guys for years, and I’ve been saying it.”

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton attacked Trump, saying the candidate was a "recruiting sergeant for the terrorists."

Asked at the conference about Trump’s call for profiling, de Blasio said, “I don’t think we want to talk about partisan politics at this point.” He added, “I’m very, very proud of the work of the NYPD and the FBI and the way they have so quickly found this suspect” and “I have a lot of faith in law enforcement and how they do things right now.”

De Blasio said he received a phone call from President Obama, who expressed his appreciation for the work conducted by law enforcement officials.

This story has been updated with comment from the governor's office.