New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg reiterated Monday that there is no "legitimate'' evidence that foreign terrorists were connected to a car bomb found in a smoking sport utility vehicle in Times Square, adding that there is a "high probability'' that law enforcement would capture whoever was behind it.
Speaking this morning on the Today show Monday morning, Mayor Bloomberg said there is no indication the plot was organized by Taliban fighters in Pakistan, as the group claimed. "So far, there is no evidence that any of this has anything to do with one of the recognized terrorist organizations.'"
Bloomberg said he wasn't making any guarantees, but thought there was a good chance any perpetrators would be caught. "Working with White House, working with Homeland Security, working with the FBI, all city agencies working together, there's a high probability that we will find out who did this and apprehend them,'' Bloomberg said
Bloomberg said the investigation is in its early phases and much is "speculation" at this point.
He again praised the street vendor and mounted police in Times Square who alerted bomb squads to the danger.
Police found the car parked on one of the prime blocks for Broadway shows in the so-called "Crossroads of the World." Thousands of tourists were cleared from the area for 10 hours.
Meantime, Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano cautioned Monday against premature decisions one way or another,'' telling the Today show that "right now, every lead has to be pursued.''
Attorney General Eric Holder said there is no question that person or persons behind the plot "intended to spread terror across New York."
Holder said that the American people ``should be assured that we are vigilant'' and remain determined to stop any potential attack. "That having been said, New York remains a target,'' said the attorney general.
