U.S. nabs Times Square bomber at JFK airport
Pakistani-born U.S. citizen was caught while trying to board a plane to Dubai from JFK; the man is not the individual seen on videotape near the bomb-laden SUV; bomb experts say the would-be bomber had left many leads for detectives to follow; one expert: “He was trying to cover his tracks, but he left more clues than a guy walking into a bank to rob it without a mask. This guy left everything here but his wallet”
U.S. authorities arrested a U.S. citizen in connection with the failed bombing attempt in New York’s Times Square as he was trying to fly out of the United States, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday night.
Based on reports by NBC News’s Pete Williams, Savannah Guthrie, and Carol Grisanti; and by msnbc.com staff, the Associated Press, Reuters, and the New York Times, this picture emerges: Faisal Shahzad, 30, was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Monday night by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as he attempted to board an Emirates airlines flight to Dubai at New York’s JFK airport, officials said. “It is clear that the intent behind this terrorist act was to kill Americans,” Holder said.
Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Pakistan, was accused of driving a car bomb into Times Square, authorities said. He will appear in Manhattan Federal Court later today.
Holder said the investigation was ongoing and that law enforcement officials had gathered “significant additional evidence.” He urged Americans to remain vigilant. “The American people should know that we are deploying every resource available and we will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice,” Holder said.
Trip to Pakistan
Earlier, officials told the Associated Press that the suspect recently returned from a trip to Pakistan, where he has a wife. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was at a sensitive stage.
Faisal will face charges “for allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square on the evening of May 1,” according to a statement by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, FBI agent George Venizelos, and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
Emirates said in a statement that one passenger was stopped at the gate and a further two passengers were removed from on board the plane. It was unclear what happened to the other two. “Full security procedures were activated including the deplaning of all passengers and a thorough screening of the aircraft, passengers and baggage,” an Emirates spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement.
Shahzad was being held in New York and could not be contacted. He has a Shelton, Conn., address and a phone number listed there wasn’t in service. Investigators were searching his home.
Law enforcement officials said Shahzad bought the SUV, a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder, that was parked in Times Square on Saturday from a person in Connecticut three weeks ago. NBC News reported he paid $1,300 in cash for the
