NEW YORK: The Times Square bomb suspect claimed during his lengthy interrogation that he received financial support from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan for his failed one-man operation, two US law enforcement officials close to the probe said on Friday.| Faisal's become quite a chatterbox, hasn't he ... |
Right. And the whole thing had nothing to do with Islam.
The Pakistani-American was the only person in the US who was "operational" in the plot to attack Times Square with a crude gasoline-and-propane car bomb on May 1, the official said. The attempted attack set off a massive probe involving hundreds of federal agents in several cities. Nearly three weeks later, investigators have so far concluded that once he was funded, Shahzad acted alone, the officials said.
Three men were arrested last week in New England on immigration charges as authorities followed the money trail. Authorities said they were suspected of providing money for Shahzad; a prosecutor said one had Shahzad's cell phone number and his first name written on an envelope in his apartment. All have denied knowing anything about the plot.
The investigation's main asset has been Shahzad. After he waived his right to an initial court appearance and agreed to cooperate after his May 3 arrest, a special interrogation team of FBI, CIA and Defence Department investigators was brought in to grill him in a Brooklyn hotel room, an official said.
The team was there to "build his trust", the official said. "But he was never really worried about talking. It was clear from the start, he wanted to."
Shahzad told investigators he was "supported" by the TTP, which initially claimed responsibility for the bombing in three separate videos, then later denied any role.