What Were the Motives of the Port Authority Bomber?
What were the motives of Ayaked Ullah, the Port Authority bomber in yesterday’s attack? There are many news headlines that address the issue, and they advance differing theories, each of them presented as fact.
Thus, Haaretz‘s English print edition page-one headline states as fact: “N.Y. bomb suspect sought revenge for Israel’s Gaza actions.”
The accompanying article, however, is more cautious about determining the motive. It qualifies:
The suspect in a failed suicide bombing in New York City on Monday told police he was motivated by Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, CNN reported. (Emphasis added.)
Haaretz‘s headline for the digital version of the same article was also more careful, likewise attributing the Gaza claim to a “report,” as opposed to presenting it as fact: “New York City Bomber Tells Police He Carried Out Attack Due to Israeli Actions in Gaza, Report Says.”
Meanwhile, others are equally certain that it’s Jerusalem that motivated Ullah to strap a bomb to his body in hopes of killing as many commuters as possible. Thus, for example, The Times of London proclaims as fact:
The article itself, however, is much less certain that Jerusalem was a factor. It reports:
Akayed Ullah, 27, is thought to have been inspired by Islamic State, but without having been in direct contact with the jihadist group. According to some reports he shouted that he was acting in the name of Isis. Others said he shouted the word “Jerusalem” — a reference to President Trump’s decision last week to recognise it as the Israeli capital.
Still a third theory — again depicted as fact in headlines — is that the ISIS-inspired terrorist was angered by the Christmas decorations in Port Authority. Business Insiderposits: “The ISIS-inspired NYC bomber chose to attack Port Authority because of its Christmas posters.”
Is it possible that a combination of the above factors could have motivated Ullah? Yes, but until the facts are established, media outlets would do well to present theories as just that.
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