VOA News 21 June 2010
The Pakistani-born man accused in a failed attempt to ignite a car bomb in New York City's Times Square last month has pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
Faisal Shahzad entered his plea Monday during an arraignment hearing at a Manhattan courthouse. He was facing 10 different counts of weapons and terrorism charges, including
attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Shahzad said in court that he considers himself a Muslim soldier. He said that unless the United States leaves Muslim lands, including Afghanistan and Iraq, he and others would attack it.
Prosecutors alleged that Shahzad, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, received explosives training from the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban) in the western tribal region of Waziristan, as well as $12,000 from co-conspirators who he believed worked for that group.
The defendant was arrested May 3 after law enforcement agents connected him to a vehicle parked in Times Square with a crude bomb. He was tracked down and removed from an airplane as it prepared to leave New York for Dubai. He faces life in prison on the charges.
Pakistani authorities have arrested several people since the attempted attack. But no one has been formally charged.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
Shahzad said in court that he considers himself a Muslim soldier. He said that unless the United States leaves Muslim lands, including Afghanistan and Iraq, he and others would attack it.
Prosecutors alleged that Shahzad, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, received explosives training from the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban) in the western tribal region of Waziristan, as well as $12,000 from co-conspirators who he believed worked for that group.
The defendant was arrested May 3 after law enforcement agents connected him to a vehicle parked in Times Square with a crude bomb. He was tracked down and removed from an airplane as it prepared to leave New York for Dubai. He faces life in prison on the charges.
Pakistani authorities have arrested several people since the attempted attack. But no one has been formally charged.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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