Faisal Shaszad | New York Times Square Bomb on Trends Hot News Today --- Faisal Shaszad | New York Times Square Bomb. Faisal Shahzad is a 30 years old Pakistani American who was born in the teeming Pakistan port city of Karachi.Shahzad was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy Airport at around 11:45 p.m. yesterday as he was trying to fly an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai. Pakistani police and intelligence officials said, " Faisal Shaszad, the suspect arrested in connection with the failed Times Square bombing.
Despite becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen on April 17, 2009, Shahzad spent much of the past year outside of the country, mostly in Pakistan where his wife, Huma Mian, is currently living. Details of his activities abroad remain unclear, but a picture of his life in American began to emerge Tuesday.
Mr. Shahzad, who left Pakistan at an unknown date for the U.S., was back in Pakistan between July and August 2009, the officials said. During that trip he traveled to Peshawar, a gateway town to the tribal areas where the Pakistan army is engaged in a war against the Taliban. It was immediately unclear if he made subsequent visits to Pakistan.
On June 2, 2009, Shahzad departed the U.S. for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. In July, he reportedly traveled to Pakistan and is believed to have visited Peshawar, a city known as a gateway to the militant-occupied tribal regions of the country, according to MSNBC.
Investigators hadn't established an immediate connection to the Pakistani Taliban - which had claimed responsibility for the botched bombing in three videos - or any foreign terrorist groups, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
"He's claimed to have acted alone, but these are things that have to be investigated," the official.
Shahzad last entered the U.S. on Feb. 3, 2010 after a five-month visit to Pakistan. According to authorities he purchased the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder used in the attempted bombing three weeks ago for $1,300. He responded to a Craigslist ad and paid for the vehicle in cash.
After media reports late Monday that authorities were looking for a Pakistani-American man, Shahzad fled to Kennedy airport, boarding a flight for Dubai before law enforcement called the plane back to the terminal and the arrest was made.
According federal law enforcement official, materials related to the homemade car bomb were found in Shahzad's apartment, including the boxes that contained the alarm clocks. His car at the airport contained a 9mm handgun with extra clips of ammunition.
He is expected to appear in court later Tuesday and has been talking to investigators, officials said.
More than a dozen people with American citizenship or residency, like Shahzad, have been accused in the past two years of supporting or carrying out terrorism attempts on U.S. soil, cases that illustrate the threat of violent extremism from within the U.S.
Abdul Basit, a spokesman for the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, said the government was ready to cooperate with U.S. authorities in any investigation in to Mr. Shahzad and his contacts in Pakistan. He gave no further details.
Governor David Paterson released a statement this morning praising the work of the law enforcement agencies and the alertness of New Yorkers.
"Without the quick response of vigilant New Yorkers, and the hard work of our men and women in law enforcement, an arrest in just over 48 hours would not have been possible," said Paterson. "I would like to commend all those who have worked swiftly to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers and all Americans, and thank them for their continued efforts to bring those responsible for this act to justice."
Police had originally been focusing on surveillance video showing a man taking off his shirt in Shubert Alley, about half a block from the SUV.
Officials now say he may have just been a bystander.
Tags: Faisal Shaszad, New York Times Square Bomb
Despite becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen on April 17, 2009, Shahzad spent much of the past year outside of the country, mostly in Pakistan where his wife, Huma Mian, is currently living. Details of his activities abroad remain unclear, but a picture of his life in American began to emerge Tuesday.
Mr. Shahzad, who left Pakistan at an unknown date for the U.S., was back in Pakistan between July and August 2009, the officials said. During that trip he traveled to Peshawar, a gateway town to the tribal areas where the Pakistan army is engaged in a war against the Taliban. It was immediately unclear if he made subsequent visits to Pakistan.
On June 2, 2009, Shahzad departed the U.S. for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. In July, he reportedly traveled to Pakistan and is believed to have visited Peshawar, a city known as a gateway to the militant-occupied tribal regions of the country, according to MSNBC.
Investigators hadn't established an immediate connection to the Pakistani Taliban - which had claimed responsibility for the botched bombing in three videos - or any foreign terrorist groups, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
"He's claimed to have acted alone, but these are things that have to be investigated," the official.
Shahzad last entered the U.S. on Feb. 3, 2010 after a five-month visit to Pakistan. According to authorities he purchased the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder used in the attempted bombing three weeks ago for $1,300. He responded to a Craigslist ad and paid for the vehicle in cash.
After media reports late Monday that authorities were looking for a Pakistani-American man, Shahzad fled to Kennedy airport, boarding a flight for Dubai before law enforcement called the plane back to the terminal and the arrest was made.
According federal law enforcement official, materials related to the homemade car bomb were found in Shahzad's apartment, including the boxes that contained the alarm clocks. His car at the airport contained a 9mm handgun with extra clips of ammunition.
He is expected to appear in court later Tuesday and has been talking to investigators, officials said.
More than a dozen people with American citizenship or residency, like Shahzad, have been accused in the past two years of supporting or carrying out terrorism attempts on U.S. soil, cases that illustrate the threat of violent extremism from within the U.S.
Abdul Basit, a spokesman for the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, said the government was ready to cooperate with U.S. authorities in any investigation in to Mr. Shahzad and his contacts in Pakistan. He gave no further details.
Governor David Paterson released a statement this morning praising the work of the law enforcement agencies and the alertness of New Yorkers.
"Without the quick response of vigilant New Yorkers, and the hard work of our men and women in law enforcement, an arrest in just over 48 hours would not have been possible," said Paterson. "I would like to commend all those who have worked swiftly to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers and all Americans, and thank them for their continued efforts to bring those responsible for this act to justice."
Police had originally been focusing on surveillance video showing a man taking off his shirt in Shubert Alley, about half a block from the SUV.
Officials now say he may have just been a bystander.
Tags: Faisal Shaszad, New York Times Square Bomb
