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Faisal Shahzad

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Faisal Shahzad
Born (1979-06-30) June 30, 1979 (age 45)
Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materSoutheastern University; University of Bridgeport (B.A. in computer science and engineering; M.B.A.)
OccupationFormer financial analyst
Known forAlleged role in 2010 Times Square car bomb attempt
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1]
Criminal charge(s)5 counts of terrorism-related crimes:
1) Attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction
2) Attempting to kill and maim people in the U.S.
3) Using and carrying a destructive device
4) Transporting an explosive device
5) Attempting to damage building, vehicles, and other property[2][3]
Criminal penaltyIf convicted, he faces up to life in prison.[2]
Criminal statusIncarcerated, charged, and awaiting formal indictment by federal grand jury
SpouseHuma Asif Mian[3]
Children2
Parent(s)Father, former high-level Pakistani air force officer Air Vice Marshal Baharul Haq[4]

Faisal Shahzad (Template:Lang-ur; born June 30, 1979 in Pakistan) is a naturalized American citizen being held in New York City as a lead suspect in regards to the May 1, 2010 Times Square car bomb attempt.

Shahzad was arrested approximately 53 hours after the incident,[5] at 11:45 p.m. EDT on May 3, 2010, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.[6][7] He was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as he sat on board Emirates Flight 202 to Dubai before the plane had moved from the gate.[2][8][9] His final destination had been Islamabad, Pakistan.

A federal complaint was filed on May 4 alleging that Shahzad committed five terrorism-related crimes including the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. A court hearing was scheduled for May 4; however, Shahzad waived his constitutional right to a speedy hearing.[2][10][3][6] If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.[2] According to the New York Times, Shahzad has implicated himself in the crimes, and has given information to authorities since his arrest, and since receiving the Miranda warnings.[6][11] CBS News has reported that Shahzad has admitted training in bomb-making in the Waziristan region of Pakistan.[3] As of May 5, Shahzad was continuing to answer questions and provide intelligence to investigators.[10] Seven or eight people have been arrested by Pakistani officials in connection with the plot, according to The New York Times.[6]

Background

Shahzad is a naturalized U.S. citizen, born in Pakistan, although the precise location of his birth has been reported variously as Karachi or Kashmir or Pabbi (a village east of Peshwar).[12][13][14] He has an identification card indicating he is a resident of Karachi, and his family is from northwest Pakistan.[2] His father, Baharul Haq, lives in a suburb of Peshawar, was a senior official in the Pakistan Air Force, holding the rank of Air Vice-Marshal before his retirement in 1992,[2][15] and is also a former deputy director general of the civil aviation authority.[16][17] Kifayat Ali, a man who said he is a cousin of Shahzad's father, insisted that Shahzad's family had no political affiliations, adding that it appeared as a "conspiracy" and "He was never linked to any political or religious party [in Pakistan]."[18]

Shahzad studied for five semesters in 1997 and 1998 at Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., where he took mostly business classes, and maintained a grade point average of 2.78.[19] In December 1998 he was granted an F-1 student visa.[20] In 2000 he transferred to the University of Bridgeport.[20] Shahzad's former teachers at the University of Bridgeport said he appeared to be quiet and unremarkable. He received a B.A. in computer science and engineering,[20] with his parents attending his graduation on May 13, 2002.[21] Just before graduation, in April 2002, he was granted an H1-B visa for skilled workers.[20] He remained in the U.S. for three years on that visa, earning an M.B.A at the University of Bridgeport in the summer of 2005.[20]

Shahzad worked as an accountant at the Elizabeth Arden company in Stamford, Connecticut while he was still working on his master's degree and until June 15, 2006 when he resigned to work elsewhere.[21]

He bought a condominium in Norwalk, Connecticut which he sold in May 2004 to a computer consultant George LaMonica. LaMonica reported being interviewed afterwards by investigators from the national Joint Terrorism Task Force, for details of the transactions and information about Shahzad.[22]

Shahzad was granted a permanent residence status, (a "green card") in January 2006.[13] He bought a home in Shelton, Connecticut, just outside Bridgeport in 2006.[21] On October 20, 2008, he reported that he had married Huma Asif Mian, an American citizen.[13][20] On her social networking page, Shahzad's wife lists her languages as English, Pashto, Urdu and French, her religion as Muslim and her political view as "nonpolitical."[18]

From mid 2006 to June 2009, Shahzad worked as a junior financial analyst for Affinion Group, an affinity marketing and consulting business[23] then located at 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut.[21]

He was granted U.S. citizenship on April 17, 2009.[2] Just weeks after gaining U.S. citizenship, he abruptly quit his job and stopped making payments on his house, defaulting on the $218,400 mortgage.[21] He moved out around May 2009, with his wife following about a month later. Shahzad and his family moved to Pakistan.[24] He was sued by the bank in September 2009, and the bank foreclosed on his home.[13]

A Shelton neighbor said that Shahzad and his wife spoke limited English, and had two young children, a girl and a boy.[24]

Contrary to reports, most notably Rush Limbaugh's broadcasts, he was not registered to vote in the U.S., had not made any political donations to U.S. federal candidates, and was not a registered democrat.[25]

Reported preparations

On July 3, 2009, he reportedly traveled to Pakistan and is believed to have visited Peshawar, a gateway to the militant-occupied tribal regions of Pakistan and stayed there from July 7 to July 22.[26] While in Pakistan, he said he trained at a terrorist training camp in what was believed to be Waziristan, according to law enforcement officials.[27]

Shahzid's most recent stay in Pakistan lasted for five months; he returned to the U.S. on February 3, 2010, on an Emirates flight from Dubai. His wife remained in Pakistan.[2][8][26][28]

Shahzad was believed to have bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder which was used in the car bomb attempt within three weeks prior to the incident. The vehicle was purchased through an ad on Craigslist, for $1,300 which Shahzad reportedly paid a Connecticut woman for in $100 bills.[29] The money was paid and the car turned over at a Connecticut shopping center, without any formal paperwork being exchanged.[30][24]

Attempted bombing of Times Square

Main article: 2010 Times Square car bomb attempt

Arrest and charges

Shahzad was arrested approximately 53 hours after the incident,[5] at 11:45 p.m. EDT on May 3, 2010, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents[6][7] (though at least one other source claims that he was captured by New York detectives and FBI agents [31]). He was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as he sat on board Emirate Airlines Flight 202 to Dubai before the plane had moved from the gate.[2][8][24][9] His final destination was to have been Islamabad, Pakistan.[2]

Lapses in security allowed Shahzad to board the plane. He had been placed on the no-fly list on Monday, May 3 at 12:30 p.m. when investigators became more certain he was a suspect.[32] Investigators then lost track of Shahzad before he drove to the airport on the evening of May 3, and did not know he was planning to leave the country.[32] The Emirates airline did not check the no-fly list for added names at 6:30 p.m. when Shahzad made a reservation, or at 7:35 p.m. when he purchased the ticket at JFK airport with cash.[32] Shahzad was later allowed to board the plane. However, a routine post boarding check at 11:00 p.m. revealed that Shahzad was on the no-fly list.[32] Within minutes, agents boarded the plane which was still at the gate and arrested him. [32]

Shortly after the arrest, Attorney General Holder said "Based on what we know so far, it is clear that this was a terrorist plot aimed at murdering Americans in one of the busiest places in our country".[9] Holder later said that Shahzad had admitted involvement in the incident, and that Shahzad was providing useful information.[33][34]

According to Deputy FBI Director John Pistole, Shahzad was initially interrogated under the public safety exception to the Miranda rule, cooperated with authorities, and was later read his Miranda rights. He continued to cooperate and provide information after he was read the rights.[35]

The FBI and NYPD searched Shahzad's Bridgeport, Connecticut home on May 4, at Sheridan Street and Boston Avenue, removing filled plastic bags.[2] Materials related to the bomb were found in his apartment, including boxes that had contained the alarm clocks, and his car at the airport had a 9mm handgun with five full magazines of ammunition, according to law enforcement officials.[26][29]

Charges filed in Federal Court

The complaint filed in Federal Court on May 4, 2010 charges five counts:[36]

Count 1, citing 18 USC 2332a (entitled "Use of weapons of mass destruction")
...i.e., attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction according to the terms of 18 USC 2332a (a)(2)(C) ("weapon of mass destruction" being defined under 18 USC 2332a (c)(2)(A) to mean any "destructive device" under the definition of 18 USC 921).
Count 2, citing 18 USC 2332b (entitled "Acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries")
...i.e., engaging in conduct that transcends national boundaries according to the terms of 18 USC 2332b (a)(1)(B) ("creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to any other person by ... attempting or conspiring to destroy or damage any ... property within the United States") under the circumstances described in 18 USC 2332b (b)(1)(B) ("the offense ... would have ... obstructed, delayed, or affected interstate or foreign commerce if the offense had been consummated").
Count 3, citing 18 USC 924 [penalties relating to Chapter 44, "Firearms"]
...i.e., using and carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence as characterized in 18 USC 924 (c)(1)(A) and (c)(1)(B)(ii)
Count 4, citing 18 USC 844 [penalties relating to Chapter 40, "Importation, Manufacture, Distribution and Storage of Explosive Material"]
...i.e., transporting or receiving an explosive with the intent that it will be used to kill, injure, or intimidate [etc.], as elaborated in 18 USC 844(d)
Count 5, also citing 18 USC 844 [see above]
...i.e., maliciously attempting to damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, [etc.] as elaborated in 18 USC 844(i)

International ties and investigation

It was reported that Pakistani authorities arrested a number of suspects in the investigation of the attempted car bombing, including two or three people at a house where Shahzad is said to have stayed.[33] Pakistani intelligence officials said a man named Tauseef, who was a friend of Shahzad, was detained in Karachi in connection with the case.[9] Representative Jane Harman, a California Democrat, said Pakistani officials arrested “alleged facilitators” as part of a “far broader investigation.”[37].

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Times Square family photo shows accused bomber Faisal Shahzad posing near scene of terror attempt". Nydailynews.com. May 5, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l CNN Wire Staff (May 4, 2010). "Times Square suspect had explosives training, documents say". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2010. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Clifden Kennedy (May 4, 2010). "Faisal Shahzad Charged with Five Counts, Admits Training in Pakistan". CBSNews.com.
  4. ^ Christofferson, John (May 4, 2010). "Times Square bombing suspect's life had unraveled". Washington post. Associated Press. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Rashbaum, William K. (May 4, 2010). "Smoking Car to an Arrest in 53 Hours". New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e William K. Rashbaum, Mark Mazzetti, and Peter Baker (May 4, 2010). "Terrorism Suspect, Charged, Said to Admit to Role in Plot". New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b Kesten, Lou (May 4, 2010). "Holder: Car bomb suspect tried to fly to Dubai". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Hsu, Spencer S. (May 4, 2010). "Probe in failed Times Square attack focusing on Pakistani Taliban". Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b c d Hays, Tom (May 4, 2010). "Suspect in Times Square plot faces terror charges". Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved May 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b Mazzetti, Mark (May 5, 2010). "Times Square Bomb Suspect Waives Rapid Court Hearing". New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Condon, Stephanie (May 4, 2010). "Faisal Shahzad Was Read Miranda Rights After Initial Questioning". CBS News.
  12. ^ Hussain, Zahid (May 4, 2010). "Dispatch From Pakistan: Shahzad Visited Peshawar in 2009". Wall Street Journal. Islamabad, Pakistan. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d Barron, James (May 4, 2010). "From Suburban Father to a Terrorism Suspect". New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Hussain, Zahid (May 5, 2010). "Lapses Allowed Suspect to Board Plane". New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  15. ^ Javed Aziz Khan and Mushtaq Paracha (May 5, 2010). "Faisal Shahzad's father vacates Peshawar house". Pakistan: The News International. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  16. ^ Ashraf Khan and Riaz Khan (May 4, 2010). "Several arrested in Pakistan". CNews. Associated Press. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  17. ^ This case is co-incidentally similar to that of David Headley, half-brother of Danyal Gilani, spokesman for the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gillani.[citation needed]
  18. ^ a b CNews Several Arrested in Pakistan
  19. ^ Ramunni, Kate "Exclusive: Documents found near bomb suspect's former Shelton home", Connecticut Post of Bridgeport, Connecticut, May 4, 2010, retrieved same day
  20. ^ a b c d e f WSJ Staff (May 4, 2010). "Faisal Shahzad's Life in America and Path to Citizenship". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: More than one of |work= and |newspaper= specified (help)
  21. ^ a b c d e Mayko, Michael, "Who is Faisal Shahzad? 'Unremarkable': American deam faded quickly for accused terrorist", Connecticut Post of Bridgeport, Connecticut, May 4, 2010, retrieved same day
  22. ^ James Barron and Michael S. Schmidt (May 5, 2010). "From Suburban Father to a Terrorism Suspect". New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  23. ^ Daniel Trotta and Zeeshan Haider (May 4, 2010). "NY bomb suspect said to admit plot, Pakistan training". Reuters. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  24. ^ a b c d Rashbaum, William K. (May 4, 2010). "Arrest Made in Times Square Bomb Case". New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Claim that alleged bomber is a registered Democrat collapses". Media Matters. May 5, 2010.
  26. ^ a b c CBS/AP (May 4, 2010). "Faisal Shahzad Kept Low Profile in U.S." Terrorism in the US. CBS News. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  27. ^ Sullivan, Eileen (May 4, 2010). "AP sources: Bomber trained at Pakistan terror camp". Washingtonpost.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Garrett, Major (May 3, 2010). "American Who Recently Visited Pakistan Eyed in Times Square Bomb Plot". Fox News. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ a b Gendar, Alison (May 4, 2010). "Faisal Shahzad, Times Sq. bomb suspect, nabbed within 'minutes' of escape; 2 held in Pakistan". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Gendar, Alison (May 3, 2010 (updated May 4, 2010)). "Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad, suspect in foiled Times Square bomb plot, arrested at JFK". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ CNN Wire Staff (May 5, 2010). "'I was expecting you,' bombing suspect tells agents". CNN. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ a b c d e Shane, Scott (May 4, 2010). "Lapses Allowed Suspect to Board Plane". New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  33. ^ a b "Latest Updates: Times Square car bomb scare". CNN Blogs. CNN. May 4, 2010. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  34. ^ Scherer, Ron (May 4, 2010). "Times Square bomber probe: Did Faisal Shahzad act alone?". New York: Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  35. ^ Baker, Peter (May 4, 2010). "A Renewed Debate Over Suspect Rights". New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  36. ^ "Complaint filed in Federal Court" (PDF). CNN. May 4, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  37. ^ Rubin, Jim (May 4, 2010). "Times Square Suspect Admits Involvement, Holder Says (Update1)". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
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