New York - Times Square Terror Suspect Pleads Guilty


New York - Faisal Shahzad today pleaded guilty to trying detonate a homemade car bomb in Times Square after getting explosives training from the Pakistani Taliban extremist group.

Shahzad, a 30-year-old naturalized American who most recently lived in Connecticut, made his plea in Manhattan federal court.

The native of Pakistan left the his SUV -- which contained containers of gasoline, propane and fertilizer -- in Times Square on May 1 after lighting a series of fireworks that he hoped with ignite the bomb.

The device, however, merely fizzled, and was discovered by street vendors who notified cops, who promptly evacuated the area.

Shahzad was nabbed by authorities two days later at JFK Airport in Queens after having already boarded a plane bound for nation of Dubai.

Since his arrest, Shahzad had been cooperating extensively with investigators. He was charged in a 10-count indictment in mid-May.

Experts have said Shahzad made several errors in constructing the bomb, starting with using non-explosive fertilzer, and by using legal fireworks which were not able to ignite the chain reaction needed to set up such a device.

Last month, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said, "The facts alleged in this indictment show that the Pakistani Taliban facilitated Faisal Shahzad's attempted attack on American soil."

The indictment alleged that Shahzad received explosives training in Waziristan, Pakistan, in December 2009 from instructors affiliated with Tehrik-e-Taliban, a militant extremist group based in Pakistan.

US Attorney Preet Bharara said Shahzad conspired with the Pakistani Taliban "to wreak death and destruction in Times Square."

NY Post

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