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A Pakistan-born US citizen has been charged with terrorism over the failed car-bomb attack in New York’s Times Square on Saturday. Faisal Shahzad, 30, was also charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, according to documents filed at Manhattan federal court. Shahzad was arrested on a Dubai-bound plane at JFK airport on Monday. Earlier, President Barack Obama vowed that Americans would “not cower in fear” after Saturday’s bombing attempt. He said the incident was a “sobering reminder of the times in which we live” and vowed that justice would be done. Matthew Bell reports.
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MARCO WERMAN: I’m Marco Werman and this is The World. U.S. authorities have brought formal terrorism charges against a suspect in the failed bombing attempt on Times Square. Thirty-year-old Faisal Shahzad is a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan. Officials say he admitted receiving bomb making training in Pakistan. He is being charged on multiple counts, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Shahzad allegedly planted a crude bomb in an SUV and drove the vehicle into one of the busiest parts of Manhattan on Saturday. U.S. officials say if the bomb had detonated as planned, it would have killed many bystanders. President Obama made a short statement today about the investigation, as The World’s Matthew Bell reports.
MATTHEW BELL: The President said U.S. officials are learning everything they can about the alleged plot, about the suspect in U.S. custody, Faisal Shahzad, and whether he has any connections to terrorist groups. Mr. Obama added that this incident is another sobering reminder of the times in which we live.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Around the world and here at home, there are those who would attack our citizens and who would slaughter innocent men, women and children in pursuit of their murderous agenda. They will stop at nothing to kill and disrupt our way of life. But once again, an attempted attack has been failed.
BELL: The President said the plot failed because a few ordinary citizens were vigilant. They reported suspicious activities to the police and then, Mr. Obama said, authorities at all levels, local, state and federal, worked in a swift and coordinated fashion to apprehend the suspect. He was pulled off a plane at JFK Airport last night, shortly before it was scheduled to take off for Dubai. Finally, the President had some words of praise for New Yorkers. He said once again they have reminded Americans how to live with their heads held high.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: We know that the aim of those who try to carry out these attacks is to force us to live in fear, and thereby amplifying the effects of their attacks, even those that fail. But as Americans and as a nation, we will not be terrorized. We will not cower in fear. We will not be intimidated. We will be vigilant and we will work together and we will protect and defend the country we love to ensure a safe and prosperous future for our people. That’s what I intend to do as President, and that’s what we will do as a nation.
BELL: In the nation of Pakistan, there were reports of several arrests today in connection to the Times Square plot. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was asked about those reports during news conference this afternoon. He said he was in no position to confirm any arrests in Pakistan. Holder declined to say if there were other suspects in the case, or if Faisal Shahzad was connected with any foreign terrorist groups. The Attorney General did say, however, that authorities are looking into a number of leads.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER: The investigation is ongoing and I wouldn’t want to reveal at this point any of the information that we gleaned from him other than to say that he has been talking to us and providing us with useful information.
MALE VOICE 1: Has he admitted involvement in this?
HOLDER: He has done that.
BELL: Holder said the failed car bombing was an attempt to carry out a terrorist attack aimed at killing as many people as possible. Shahzad is being charged with terrorism and the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. Holder said investigators are looking at evidence found in the suspect’s car and at his Connecticut home. The Attorney General also praised law enforcement and Homeland Security officials for a job well done. Counter-terrorism expert, and former FBI official, Matthew Levitt echoes that sentiment.
MATTHEW LEVITT: The fact that they were able to run down these leads this quickly, stopped the suspect from escaping the country, just hours really after the attack, running down all kinds of leads, to me, as someone who is former FBI counter-terrorism, is impressive. And I think that should give American citizens a lot of comfort. No less important, by the way, is the role that regular citizens played in helping the authorities do their job.
BELL: The Times Square car bomb plot is also stoking an ongoing and highly politicized debate about the best way to prevent terrorist attacks. Levitt says the issue is often framed in a misleading way.
LEVITT: There is this debate which paints a black and white picture between a law enforcement approach to counter-terrorism and a military approach to counter-terrorism. I think it’s a false distinction. Counter-terrorism demands the strategic approach that involves the use of all tools of national power. And on a case-by-case basis assessing in which case the right tool is most applicable.
BELL: President Obama might have had that debate in mind today when he said the FBI and its partners have all the tools they need to conduct the investigation into Saturday’s attempted bombing. For The World, I’m Matthew Bell.
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