DODGED BULLET

Jury Won’t Hear Accused Chelsea Bomber Shot at Cops

Alleged terrorist's defense team notches a win.

A New York jury will not hear about alleged terrorist Ahmad Rahimi's shootout with police, a Manhattan federal judge ruled Tuesday. Rahimi faces charges in New York relating to bombs set off at two Chelsea locations in Manhattan last September . He also faces charges in New Jersey state courts relating to bombs found at several locations in that state, and shots exchanged with police upon his arrest. Prosecutors argued that the shootout was part of Rahimi's three-part plan, which they claim was written out ahead of time in his journal. Rahimi's lawyers argued that he was asleep when he was found by police, and that he was not otherwise seeking them out for attack. Judge Richard Berman agreed. Evidence of the shootings would largely serve to prejudice the jury and muddle the terrorism charges, he said.