Ullah's Life Sentence Uphold: ISIS Ties Dismissed

0:00It's April 21st. Welcome to Durham News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. A federal appeals court just upheld the life sentence for Akaid Ula, the Bangladeshi immigrant behind that failed subway bomb attempt under times. Squareback in 2017. The second circuit tossed out his conviction for supporting the Islamic State group, but kept the main bombing charges intact, locking in that life. Term from 2021. The judges ruled that material support needs proof he was under ISIS control, and since Ula acted solo with no real ties or direction from them, that charge doesn't stick. They said just seeing himself as an ISIS soldier ain't enough if the group had no clue about him. At sentencing, the judge called it a barbaric act, and Ula himself apologized, saying he was wrong and sorry from the heart. The blast burned him bad, but only caused minor injuries nearby, like one bystander losing most of his hearing. Even President Trump at the time blasted the immigration system over it.

1:01There's a descent from one judge who said the jury had solid evidence, including Ula's own words tying it to ISIS and accused the majority of, twisting the law. Lawyers on both sides stayed quiet after the ruling. Meanwhile, this comes weeks after two teens got charged for a similar plot, bringing fake bombs to an anti-Islam event in Manhattan, also. ISIS inspired but no explosions, keeps the terror watch sharp in the city.