News / USA

Suspect in Failed NY Bomb Attack Interrogated

Faisal Shahzad (file photo)
Faisal Shahzad (file photo)
TEXT SIZE - +

U.S. officials say a Pakistani-American charged with an attempted car bombing in New York City is cooperating with investigators as they try to determine a motive for the planned attack.

The suspect, Faisal Shahzad, 30, was to appear in a New York Court Tuesday, but his hearing was delayed to Wednesday or Thursday so that he can continue to talk to investigators.

Officials say Shahzad, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, has admitted his role in the plot, and has been providing valuable information.  They also say he waived his constitutional right to remain silent.

Shahzad was arrested after law enforcement agents connected him to a car parked in New York City's Times Square Saturday with a crude bomb inside.  He was tracked down and removed from an airplane that was preparing to leave New York for Dubai late Monday.

Authorities are probing any link he may have had to overseas terrorist organizations.  They say Shahzad has admitted to receiving explosives training in northwestern Pakistan.

Pakistani intelligence officials say they have arrested several people in the southern city of Karachi in connection with the attempted bombing.

The Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility for the failed attack, but officials in the U.S. and Pakistan have been skeptical of that claim.

Shahzad managed to board his flight to Dubai despite being placed on a "no-fly" list hours before it was scheduled to take off.

Now, the U.S. government is changing the rules to require airlines to check the no-fly list more often.

Previously, airlines had 24 hours to check the list after being notified that a high-risk name has been added.  They now must check within two hours.

The airline, Emirates, says it followed security procedures.

It took 53 hours for police to arrest Shahzad from the time the car was discovered.  In Washington Wednesday, at a Senate hearing on terrorism, New York Police Chief Ray Kelly hailed that as a "remarkable amount of time."

At the same hearing, which had been scheduled before the attempted attack, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said his city has been targeted by terrorists before, and will be again.  He said that is why officials in the city are doing everything possible to stop another attack.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Related video report by Carolyn Presutti:

You May Like

Russia Cracks Down on Gay Activism

Arrest of 30 activists coincided with first-ever gay rights rally in neighboring Ukraine, which was allowed by authorities, protected by police More

In Hong Kong, Beef Over Sammy Kitchen's 3D Cow

Much to the dismay of restaurant owner Sammy Yip, authorities have turned an inhospitable eye toward his giant cow looming over Queen's Road West More

Cambodian Documentary Wins Cannes Prize for Innovative Cinema

In 'The Missing Picture', Rithy Panh uses clay figurines to tell story of Khmer Rouge brutality More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Volunteers Help Revive LA's Concrete River

The Los Angeles River is a concrete drainage channel through much of its 80-kilometer length. It channels waste-water from storm drains and has become a receptacle for much of the city's trash. But as Mike O'Sullivan reports, the river is slowly being restored with the help of volunteers, who take part in an annual clean-up.