A Rapid and decisive response saves lives

As frightened pedestrians ran from an explosion near the Port Authority Bus Terminal Monday, 28-year-old Port Authority Police Officer Anthony Manfredini ran toward the area where the device detonated, said agency and union officials.

Mr. Manfredini, a former canine-bomb technician in the Marines, was the first of four Port Authority officers who apprehended the terror suspect after the morning rush-hour blast, said Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association.

Mr. Manfredini, was at his post when he saw people running near the area where Akayed Ullah, a 27 year-old immigrant from Bangladesh, allegedly attempted to set off a homemade pipe bomb strapped to his body, authorities said. The explosive fizzled, burning the suspect and slightly injuring three others. Mr. Manfredini took the device off the suspect, Mr. Nunziato said. He then alerted the Port Authority police desk and three more officers, Jack Collins, Sean Gallagher and Drew Preston, were sent to the scene, Mr. Nunziato said.

“They saw wires, a cellphone,” Mr. Nunziato said. “They didn’t know if he had more devices on him. At that moment, they made a split-second decision. They jumped on him so he couldn’t detonate anything else.

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