Times Square would-be bomber received terror training in Pakistan

New York, May 5 (ANI): Faisal Shahzad, the 30-year-old Pakistani origin terror suspect who has been accused of planting an explosive device in a parked SUV at New York's Times Square, has told investigators that he received bomb-making training during a five-month trip to Pakistan.

He disclosed that the training was imparted to him in Waziristan, a tribal region close to the Afghan border and a Taliban bastion. He also admitted that he was the one who carried out the failed attack.

Connecticut resident Shahzad said he was the only individual involved in the foiled bombing attempt.

Authorities apprehended Shahzad while he was trying to flee New York for Dubai on an Emirates flight.

US Attorney General Eric Holder told a news conference in Washington that Shahzad's act was a "terrorist plot aimed at killing Americans."

Despite Shahzad's claims that he acted alone, authorities "will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice," the New York Post quoted him, as saying.

"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," he added.

Holder claimed that Shahzad, a naturalized US citizen, had admitted to the crime and was talking to authorities.

"The investigation is ongoing," he said without elaborating further.

According to the charges, Faisal bought the SUV on April 24 for 1,300 dollars, using thirteen 100-dollar bills.

When the cops secured the car, they found a set of keys inside-one of which opened the front door of his Bridgeport home, the other was for an Isuzu owned by him.

Using a pre-paid cell phone, Faisal called a fireworks store in Pennsylvania and received several calls from Pakistan, according to court papers.

Meanwhile, authorities in Pakistan raided four different locations and have rounded up at least ten suspects, some of whom may be related to Shahzad.

Pakistani police told NBC News that Shahzad travelled from the US to Karachi on July 3, 2009, and returned to New York on August 8, 2009.

During that time, he is believed to have travelled to Peshawar, a city in the region bordering Afghanistan.

According to New York Post, the explosive device found inside the SUV had alarm clocks connected to a 16-ounce can filled with fireworks, which were intended to detonate gas cans and set propane tanks afire in a chain reaction.

Cops said the bomb could have produced "a significant fireball" with enough force to kill pedestrians and destroy nearby buildings. (ANI)