A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen faces arraignment this afternoon an indictment accusing him of using money and training from the Pakistani Taliban to plot a failed Times Square car bombing.
Faisal Shahzad is being called to a New York federal courtroom to enter a plea to 10 terrorism and weapons charges. He's accused of a plot that fizzled when a gasoline-and-propane bomb failed to ignite in an SUV parked near a Broadway theater May 1.
The ex-budget analyst from Bridgeport, Conn., was arrested two days later. Authorities say he cooperated with investigators for two weeks before requesting a lawyer. His dad's cousin calls his arrest "a conspiracy."
The indictment came last week in Manhattan federal court. The most serious counts against the 30-year-old Shahzad carry mandatory penalties of life in prison.
Officials have said Shahzad has confessed and detailed his alleged role. In addition to the terror counts, prosecutors last week added new weapons charges against Shahzad. The night he was arrested, a semi-automatic rifle he allegedly bought back on March 15 in Connecticut was left behind in a second vehicle.
Investigators have said it appears Shahzad acted alone inside the United States although it is believed he received some terror training and support from extremists linked to the Pakistan Taliban.
"The facts alleged in this indictment show the Pakistan Taliban facilitated Faisal Shahzad's attempted attack on American soil," said Attorney General Eric Holder.
Prosecutors said Shahzad did receive explosives training from terrorists linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban. And on February 25, a member of the believed to be part of that terrorist group allegedly wired him $5,000 dollars to Massachussets for use in carrying out the plot. Weeks later, on April 10, court papers said Shahzad recieved $7,000 more dollars wired to Ronkonkoma, Long Island.
