Times Square bomb plotter is of Kashmiri descent: Officials

Washington, May 5 (ANI): Faisal Shahzad, an American civilian of Pakistani origin, who has been accused of plotting last week's failed Times Square bombing, is said to be of Kashmiri descent, sources close to the investigations have revealed.

Sources privy to the probe said 30-year old Shahzad had been living in the US for quite some time and had renewed his Pakistani passport in March 2000 and by 2005 was in the process of getting a 'green card', i.e. a permanent resident status of the United States.

They said the authorities are still unsure over whether Shahzad had links with any of the terror groups operating from terror hot beds situated in Pakistan.

"Which group he may have belonged to and how he became radicalised, we don't know yet. He is Kashmiri by ethnicity," The News quoted an official associated with the investigation, as saying.

According to US officials Shahzad has admitted to his role in the failed bombing plot, adding that he had received bomb-making training in Pakistan's restive tribal region along the country's border with Afghanistan. (ANI)