New York Times Square bomb attack

On 1 May 2010 a car bomb was discovered in New York’s Times Square – one of the most well-known locations in the US and famous worldwide.

The device had been ignited, but failed to explode.

Faisal Shahzad was later arrested and accused of planting it as he tried to board a flight to Dubai at John F Kennedy International Airport.

A month later he pleaded guilty, telling investigators he was acting alone.

The 30-year-old, of Pakistani origin, denied having links with al-Qaida or other radical groups. But President Obama has said that any possible connection with international terrorism will be investigated and pledged that America will not be intimidated.

FBI spokesman Richard Kolko confirmed “a person has been detained” and another law enforcement source said the suspect “was arrested while trying to leave the country.”

According to the New York Times the man was a naturalised US citizen from Pakistan who lives in neighbouring Connecticut and recently returned from a trip to Pakistan.

The New York Times said: “Investigators who were tracking the man were also exploring whether he or others who might have been involved in the attempted bombing had been in contact with people or groups overseas.

The scare was a stark reminder for the eight million residents of New York of the terror threat to the city. In 2001 more than 2,600 people were killed by al-Qaida terrorists who hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Centre’s twin towers.

According to the New York Times the man was a naturalised US citizen from Pakistan who lives in neighbouring Connecticut and recently returned from a trip to Pakistan.

The New York Times said: “Investigators who were tracking the man were also exploring whether he or others who might have been involved in the attempted bombing had been in contact with people or groups overseas.”

The scare was a stark reminder for the eight million residents of New York of the terror threat to the city. In 2001 more than 2,600 people were killed by al-Qaida terrorists who hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Centre’s twin towers.

Police were alerted to the Nissan Pathfinder, which was smoking and sparking, by street vendors. The vehicle was parked awkwardly with its engine still running and hazard lights flashing near Broadway theatre where Disney’s The Lion King is performed.

The pathfinder had fake number plates attached and was rigged with propane gas cylinders, gasoline cans, fertilizer, fireworks and timing devices.

The registered owner of the vehicle told police it was sold three weeks ago without any paperwork to a 29-30-year-old man described as Hispanic or Middle Eastern.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said: “I would say that that was intended to terrorise.

“And I would say that whoever did that would be categorised as a terrorist.”

US intelligence officials have advised people not to draw any conclusions from the latest developments.

I would say that was intended to terrorise. And I would say that whoever did that would be categorised as a terrorist. Robert Gibbs

Soon after the failed plot, the Taliban in Pakistan or Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for planting the bomb to avenge the killing in April of two of al Qaida’s top military leaders in Iraq. New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg both said there was “no evidence” to substantiate this claim.

However, former CIA analyst Bruce Riedel, who oversaw an Obama administration strategy review of Afghanistan and Pakistan last year, cautioned against dismissing links to the Pakistan Taliban.

He said: “They have said they want to attack inside the United States,” adding that there is “a very serious possibility” the incident involved “some Pakistani-American who has never built a car bomb before in his life, but who is being coached either by phone or internet.”

On 21 June 2010 in Faisal Shahzad appeared in court in Manhattan and confessed to 10 counts arising from the bombing attempt of Times Square.