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Rediff.com  » News » Times Square bomber attended training camp in Waziristan

Times Square bomber attended training camp in Waziristan

Source: PTI
May 05, 2010 09:13 IST
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Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad, the suspected Times Square bomber, attended a terrorist training camp at Waziristan in Pakistan, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has said.

In a 10-page compliant file on Tuesday before the Court of Judge Nathaniel Fox, Southern District of New York, the FBI alleged that Shahzad traveled from Connecticut to New York on a sports-utility vehicle that was laden with a bomb.

The 30-year-old was arrested from New York's John F Kennedy Airport on Monday night when he was trying to flee the country. Earlier, US Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters that Shahzad was co-operating with the federal investigating agencies and was providing useful information.

"After the arrest, Shahzad admitted that he had attempted to detonate a bomb in Times Square. He also admitted that he had recently received bomb-making training in Waziristan, Pakistan," the FBI said. The federal compliant said Shahzad, who gained US citizenship in April last year, returned from Pakistan on February 3.

He had arrived on a one-way ticket. During an immigration inspection, Shahzad told officials that he had been in Pakistan for at least five months to visit his parents. He indicated that he intended to stay in a motel in Connecticut while he looked for a place to live and a job. Shahzad further advised his wife to remain behind in Pakistan, the FBI told the court.

In addition, Shahzad admitted that he had brought the Nissan Pathfinder to Times Square and attempted to detonate it. Shahzad also noted that he had driven a particular car to the airport on May 3, 2010 and stated that the car contained a gun, the FBI said, adding the gun was recovered from his car.

"Shahzad, after receiving bomb-making training in Waziristan, Pakistan, traveled to the US, transported a sports utility vehicle to the vicinity of 45th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York, and attempted to detonate explosive and incendiary devices located inside the sports utility vehicle," the complaint stated.

The Pakistani-American bought the vehicle, which he used to fit explosives inside, with cash on April 24, 2010, the FBI added.

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