Entry 5

Topic: NY Bomb suspect nearly escapes to Dubai

Faisal Shahzad was considered to be the suspect of the attempted bombing on New York’s Time Square. Faisal Shahzad was arrested on a Dubai bound plane at JFK airport where the customs agents who were checking the passenger list before the departure of the plane who happened to be added to the government’s no-fly list earlier that Monday. Faisal Shahzad left a car containing a bomb made from fertiliser, fireworks, petrol and propane gas tanks was left in Times Square on Saturday, a street vendor alerted the police when he saw a smoking car that was left on with hazard lights.

Article 1: UK

NY bomb suspect 'nearly escaped US' on Dubai flight

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8661360.stm

Bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad admitted to the attempt of bombing New York’s Time Square, Faisal Shahzad was trained at a militant training camp in the lawless Pakistani tribal region of Waziristan. The Pakistan-born US citizen received training in bomb making in the camp. The bomb that was made consisted of fertiliser, fireworks, petrol and propane gas tanks was left in a car at New York’s Time Square where a street vendor noticed a car that was smoking with hazard lights.

Article 2: USA

N.Y. Bomb Plot Suspect Charged With Terrorism

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126493890

The bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad drove a sport utility vehicle packed with explosives into the heart of New York’s Time Square, was charged with terrorism and attempting to use a wearpon of mass destruction in the failed attempt bombing. In a federal complaint prosecutors accused Shahzad of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to kill U.S citizens and carrying a destructive device. Faisal Shahzad launched the plot in December 2009, according to a sworn statement from FBI agent Andrew Pachtman. When he was captured he told authorities he had recently reveived bomb making training in Waziristan, Pakistan.

Article 3: Australia

FBI 'lost track' of New York bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/fbi-lost-track-of-new-york-bomb-suspect-faisal-shahzad/story-e6frg6so-1225862609957

The FBI lost track of New York bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad over the attempted Times Square bombing, with questions now being asked as to why he was able to board an international flight that almost left New York. Prosecutors have filed terrorism charges against Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-American accused of planting a car bomb in the crowded centre of Manhattan on Saturday, but the bomb failed to go off. The 10-page criminal complaint accuses Mr. Shahzad of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Investigators did not know he was planning to fly abroad until a final passenger list was sent to officials at the federal Customs and Border Protection agency minutes before takeoff.

Reflection

I believe that the US government should be more alert to the idea that anyone could perform this task and could easily get away as Faisal Shahzad almost did. After 9/11 I would have assumed that there would have been a better tracking system of people who were declared to be on a “No-fly list”. I think that Americas airport security should be more advanced and prepared to these situations more in the future.