NEW YORK: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday alleged Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad is cooperating with authorities and will be charged with terrorism.
Shahzad, 30, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was arrested early Tuesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to flee the United States for Dubai.
“It is clear this was a terrorist plot aimed at murdering Americans,” Holder told a news conference, adding Shahzad would be charged with an act of terrorism transcending national borders, using a weapon of mass destruction, use of a destructive device and a variety of explosive charges.
A court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
ABC reported two other arrests had been made in the case: Shahzad’s father-in-law and a friend from Pakistan who traveled to the United States to advise Shahzad. ABC said Shahzad told investigators he had been given money by the Taliban and approval for the attack.
“The plot was a very serious attempt,” Holder said, adding if the bomb hadn’t failed it could have been a “lethal attack … in the heart of New York City.”
“We have no higher priority than disrupting those attempts,” Holder said.
Earlier President Barack Obama told the Business Council: “Justice will be done and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people. This incident is another sobering reminder of the times in which we live. Around the world and here at home there are those who would attack our citizens and who would slaughter innocent men, women and children in pursuit of their murderous agenda.”
Authorities said they believe Shahzad bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder found loaded with gasoline, propane, fireworks and fertilizer in Times Square Saturday, The New York Times reported.
“This investigation is ongoing, as are our attempts to gather useful intelligence and we continue to pursue a number of leads,” Holder said in a statement issued from Washington. “But it’s clear that the intent behind this terrorist act was to kill Americans.”
Authorities focused on Shahzad after they traced the sport utility vehicle to its previously registered owner in Bridgeport, Conn., who advertised it for sale on the Internet and provided some information about the transaction to investigators, the Times said. Unclear was how Joint Terrorist Task Force agents identified Shahzad.
Holder said the investigation is “multifaceted, 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.”
Officials cautioned an investigation of possible international contacts didn’t mean a link to a known terrorist group was established, the Times said.
“It’s a prominent lead that they’re following, the international association,” a senior official told the Times. “But there’s still a lot of information being gathered.”
Obama said terrorists who try to carry out attacks want U.S. citizens “to live in fear and thereby amplifying the effects of their attacks, even those that fail.”
But, Obama said, “as Americans, and as a nation, we will not be terrorized. We will not cower in fear. We will not be intimidated.”
salam
that boy if did like that, then he must be hang.
but our almost leaders are really mother fucker except few. they make our reputition worst than a pig louse in the world. I am in a foreign country and people behave how badly with pakistanies, only knew those who are behaved. whenever someone blame pakistan and out multi fathers politicians accept as soon as they admit their fathers.i am really too muc fed up of them, they all are catamites of americans and indians or whoever want to push back pakistan. if possible for me i shoot them on place where they ……/
Since Childhood we’ve been listening Made in UK Saying “EVERYTHING IS FAIR BETWEEN LOVE & WAR” by the way this is entirely different from Basic Islamic Teachings as our Ruling English Speaking Elite BELIEVE & Follow their Sayings & Political Tactics then why they/our Rulers along-with Americans or Brits SHOUT against such Tit for Tat Talibans’s Terrorist Attacks because in Droned Attacks Americans & Pakistan’s Army & PAF kill their children & women moreover we do not represent their POVs on Media — only Pakistani Officials & American/Brits POVs are presented.
AMERICAN/PAK Fauj Masoom Aur Bay Gunah Marien Tu Hoga COLLETRAL DAMAGE-
Taliban Marien Tu Kaihlay Gee Dehshatgurdee Nahee Unkay Lee-ay Koee Bhee PASSAGE-
70 Kee Dehai Mein Bengali 90 Kee Dehai Mein MQM Kay Lee-ay Bhee Yehi Thein LOGISTICS-
Eik Aur Naqibal-e-Feham Mazaq – Pak Fauj Ka Iss Qaum Ko Hay Ajeeb-o-Ghareeb – MESSAGE-
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=INNOCENTS KILLING IN AFGHANISTAN&aq=f
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oGkxq9tN9LUsoAHmPkRqF4?p=Pakistan Army at Northern Areas Killing innocents &iscqry=&fr=yff35-sfp&fr2=ond_moz_off
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oGk9jitN9LbAgATW1XNyoA?p=Americans Droned Attacks at Northern Areas Killing innocents&fr2=sb-top&fr=yff35-sfp&sao=1
President Barach Obama said, ” Justice will be done & we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people” where as in Pakistan, Prime Minister and his all ministers says,” We will continue to do everything in our power to protect our President from corruption & SC verdicts and give damn to the Pakistani people.” Americans have started the new series against Pakistan by showing first episode of Faisal Shehzad, that he is cooperating with the authorities. He will definitely cooperate with the higher authorities to get big reward, because his native country’s politicians/Army/Media/Govt, all have their price, so pay them and get them in your favour.
The US makes blunders sometimes, which is not expected from a sole super power like US.
If they need Pakistan to carry out Military opeartion in North Wazirstan or any other part of Pakistan, they doesnt any excuse for that. They have just to inform our political or milterry set up, they rest of the job will be carried out even beyond their expectations.
But one thing, they might think that the present set up may not be capable to understand their demands.
Yes it is very possible cos the present set up is self sufficent in only one thing and that is stupidity. there are a lot of stupids. But they(the US) shouldnt worry too much about it if on one side they are stupids, on the other hand they are very greedy for money as well. By offering a few dollors , they can do any thing with this nation.
By blaming an innocent, young qualifid person like Faisal Shahzad in terrorist activities, they have lost their image not only in the eyes of all pakistanis but also in the muslims living in the US.
If the US has any importance of their image in the world and specifically in the muslim world, they should avoid such incidents, and put their list of demand just in plane words to the Pakistani authorities.
May be they have forgot, the capabilties of Pakistani militery and religouse powers in providing services to teh US. They have fought for their intersts for a long time(10 years) with great zeal and religeaouse spirite against USSR.
And very recently one of our Commondo General handed over all the soverignty of this country by just a single telephone call from washington.
Just test us once again, you will not be let down.
But for God sake dont punish the innocent people cos it doesnt suite to a Super Power.
Well i wonder how can we expect our politicians and army to stand up against americans……after all they get their salaries from America.Boss is always right as they say……………