New York, NY – In Hunt for Times Square Bomb Suspect, Two More Taken Off Plane

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    An FBI agent carries on object from a home in Bridgeport, Conn. Tuesday morning  May 4, 2010.  FBI searched a home in Bridgeport where Faisal Shahzad lived.  Shahzad was arrest in connection with the  failed Times Square car bomb.   their homes.  (AP Photo/Douglas Healey).New York, NY – Three passengers were taken off a New York-Dubai flight in connection with the attempted car bombing in New York’s Times Square, Emirates Airlines has said.

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    US authorities announced earlier an American man of Pakistani descent was being held after he was stopped while trying to flee the country, (as was reported here on VIN News early Tuesday morning).

    Faisal Shahzad, 30, was trying to board a plane for Dubai at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, authorities said.

    But Emirates revealed in a statement that US officials took two other people off the flight.

    “Emirates can confirm that its flight EK 202 (from New York to Dubai on May 3)… was called back by the local authorities prior to departure,” the airline said.

    “Three passengers were removed from the flight.

    US Attorney General Eric Holder said the bomb was designed to kill.

    “This investigation is ongoing, as are our attempts to gather useful intelligence, and we continue to pursue a number of leads,” he said.

    “But it’s clear that the intent behind this terrorist act was to kill Americans.”

    The New York Times said Shahzad originates from the US state of Connecticut and has recently returned to the country after spending five months in Pakistan.

    ABC News is reporting that investigators are looking into the possibility of a Connecticut terror cell.

    CNN said the suspect was on the plane with a likely final destination of Pakistan when authorities halted the aircraft and arrested him.

    Pakistan vowed to help the US to punish whoever is responsible.

    “We will co-operate with the United States in identifying this individual and bringing him to justice,” interior minister Rehman Malik said.

    New York authorities said Shahzad would appear in Manhattan Federal Court later today.

    We will focus on not just holding those responsible for it accountable, but also on obtaining any intelligence about terrorist organisations overseas.

    He faces charges of “allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square on the evening of May 1,” a statement said.

    He is thought to be the man who recently bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder which was found rigged to explode in Manhattan’s entertainment district.

    The vehicle was purchased for $1,300 in a shopping centre in Connecticut three weeks ago.

    The last registered owner of the vehicle, who sold it, described the internet buyer as a “Latino or Arabic-looking man in his 20s or 30s”, ABC News reported.

    The arrest comes after the FBI’s terrorism task force and NYPD launched a huge manhunt to try to catch the would-be bomber.

    Mr Holder made it clear that the early belief that the attempted explosion has connections to overseas terrorism was being investigated.

    He said: “As we move forward, we will focus on not just holding those responsible for it accountable, but also on obtaining any intelligence about terrorist organisations overseas.”

    A Pakistani-based Taliban group claimed credit for the attack in an internet video on Sunday, but Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has since said police had no evidence to support the claim.

    Meanwhile, investigators are continuing to try to identify a white man in his 40s who was seen on video near the car at the time of Saturday’s incident.


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    9 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    If it quacks like terrorism, it’s terrorism.

    chanie
    chanie
    13 years ago

    I can’t understand one thing!! These behaimes have put this car full with explosives to explode. Why didn’t they try to flee the country right away??? For us its a great thing that they tried fleeing only now but for themselves?!?! This is to prove that they don’t have a mind on themselves

    Moish
    Moish
    13 years ago

    Shazad failed his class in bomb making that he took during his sojourn in Pakistan

    insider
    insider
    13 years ago

    It seems, that if the authorities had to dedicate so much resources in tracking and catching the ow-life, he wasn’t exactly the biggest dummy. Nevertheless, he made a mistake (lucky for US !!!!). He didn’t (or coudn’t) fully hide his identity in the use of the cell phone that was used to make the phone call to inquire and ultimately purchase the SUV. The cel phone was unregistered and annonymously purchased for cash. The SUV was paid for in cash. The license plate was stolen. The bomb materials were also not traceable. Literally, no leads were left to investigate – or almost no leads. The government must be given great credit for cracking this case !!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Very lucky they were able to stop the plane before it took off, otherwise they would have gotten away scott free.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    President Bush – WE MISS YOU!!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    If the terrorist r trying to instill fear . They’re doing a good job summer is here I love the big city , but now that its bomb accesible I’m staying home I don’t want to imagine another 911 it brings up last weeks suppers!!!!

    Loshon Hora
    Loshon Hora
    13 years ago

    Do you realize where the terrorists were flying to?
    Dubai.
    No shame & they are a true Obama-USA freind? After all Feizel Shitzad, like the assasinated terrorist are welcome freedom feighters in Dubai, a freindly country to our honorable president?