Several arrests have been made in connection to the attempted terrorist car-bombing in New York Saturday, including Faisal Shazhad a naturalized American citizen, who is originally from Pakistan, who was apprehended at John F. Kennedy Airport at midnight Monday. Pop the hood for details.
A man was busted in Pakistan today in connection with the botched Times Square bombing as the investigation into the attempted attack widens.
More arrests are expected following the arrest of the man in Karachi suspected of working with Faisal Shahzad, who was arrested Monday at midnight at Kennedy Airport, according to Fox News.
Authorities did not release the name of the suspect in the latest arrest.
Shahzad, 30, a Connecticut man of Pakistani descent, was busted for allegedly planting a bomb inside a SUV in Times Square.
Shahzad told investigators he acted alone — denying that he has any ties to radical Islamic groups from his native country.
“He’s admitted to buying the truck, putting the devices together, putting them in the truck, leaving the truck there and leaving the scene,” a law enforcement source told Reuters. “He’s claimed to have acted alone. He did admit to all the charges, so to speak.”
Shahzad was arrested after Dubai-bound Emirates flight EK202 was called back before taking off from JFK Airport.
Pakistani police told NBC News that Shahzad traveled from the US to Karachi on July 3, 2009, returning to New york on Aug. 8, 2009. During that time, he is believed to have traveled to Peshawar, a major city in the region bordering Afghanistan.
Despite Shahzad’s claims, authorities “will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice,” US Attorney General Eric Holder said early today during a news conference in Washington.
Authorities said Shahzad was planning to board another flight in Dubai bound for Pakistan.
Shahzad, who is slated to be arraigned in Manhattan federal court this afternoon, stands accused of driving a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder loaded with a propane-and-gasoline bomb into Times Square on Saturday night.
Holder also said that Shahzad intended “to kill Americans.”
“This investigation is ongoing, it is multi-faceted, and it is aggressive. As we move forward, we will focus on not just holding those responsible for it accountable, but also on obtaining any intelligence about terrorist organizations overseas.”
Law enforcement officials said Shahzad bought the Pathfinder from a Connecticut man about three weeks ago and paid for it in cash.
The vehicle ID number had been removed from the dashboard — but it was stamped on the engine.
Investigators used it to find the owner of record, who told them he had sold the vehicle to a stranger.
The explosive device found inside the SUV had alarm clocks connected to a 16-ounce can filled with fireworks, which were intended to detonate gas cans and set propane tanks afire in a chain reaction “to cause mayhem, to create casualties,” said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
A metal rifle cabinet placed in the SUV’s cargo area was packed with fertilizer, but NYPD bomb experts believe it was not a type volatile enough to explode like the ammonium nitrate grade fertilizer used in past terror attacks.
Cops said the bomb could have produced “a significant fireball” with enough force to kill pedestrians and destroy nearby buildings.
Mayor Bloomberg thanked the NYPD and FBI for their efforts this morning during an appearance with firefighters at Engine Co. 54 and Ladder 4 who responded to the incident over the weekend.
“This is an ongoing investigation,” he said. “There is still plenty of work to do.”
SMH. It sounds like Faisal Shazhad (which is a very common name by the way) was almost home free, good thing they caught up with him.
It’s not looking good for the ‘naturalized American citizens” though, Faisal is fu*king it up for folks who don’t have any bad intentions. Thanks to him, now they’re all lookin’ extra suspect too.
This ish is scary.
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