Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen was arrested last night by the FBI and police in connection with the attempted car bomb last Saturday in Times Square. Shahaz was pulled off an Emirates plane at New York’s JFK Airport bound for Dubai, within 36 hours after the car bomb he is responsible for, failed to detonate. According to news reports, two other passengers were removed from the plane.
The FBI and police are learning that Shahzad had recently returned from a five month trip to Pakistan and are investigating whether the clumsy terrorist has international connections.
Investigators have confirmed that the intent behind the failed car bomb attack was to kill Americans.
Shahzad recently purchased the Nissan Pathfinder used to make the bomb, for $1,300 which he paid for in cash. A couple days later he had the windows tinted.
Investigators are saying too that that there was lots of evidence left behind in the vehicle to connect Shahzad to the attack very quickly. Among other things, he left behind a set of keys to other vehicles he owned and hand-drawn maps of New York train lines and the Staten Island Ferry, suggesting that there may have been more targets in view.
Shahzad became a U.S. citizen in April 2009. Investigators are still trying to determine whether or not Shahzad was under instruction from any international terrorist group and is connected to a sleeper cell in the U.S.
