• 06:35
  • Wednesday ,05 May 2010
العربية

Man held over New York bomb plot

By-BBC

International News

00:05

Wednesday ,05 May 2010

Man held over New York bomb plot
A man suspected of attempting to detonate a car bomb in New York City has been arrested.
US Attorney-General Eric Holder named the man as Faisal Shahzad, a US citizen of Pakistani origin.
 
He was arrested at John F Kennedy airport in New York attempting to board a flight to Dubai, Mr Holder said.
 
The vehicle was left in Times Square on Saturday with a bomb made from fertiliser, fireworks, petrol and propane gas tanks.
 
The bomb was discovered and dismantled before it could explode.
 
Mr Holder told a news conference that investigators were pursuing "a number of leads", adding: "We will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice."
 
He urged the American people to "remain vigilant" and report anything suspicious to the authorities.
 
Evacuation
 
A dark-coloured Nissan Pathfinder was left parked in Times Square on Saturday evening with its engine running and its hazard lights flashing, with a home-made bomb inside.
 
Mr Holder said it "would have been a deadly attack had it been successful".
 
He added: "It's clear that the intent behind this terrorist act was to kill Americans."
 
Times Square was packed with tourists and theatre-goers when a street vendor raised the alarm.
 
Police evacuated a wide area of the district and closed subway lines, while a controlled explosion was carried out.
 

Officials said the bomb was crude, but could have sparked a "significant fireball".