Faisal Shahzad, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen from Pakistan, was arrested last night at JFK airport after authorities discovered he was aboard a plane that had left the gate and was preparing to take off for Dubai. He had recently returned from an extended trip to Pakistan. Authorities also have evidence of an “international connection.” Obviously, that translates to Shahzad had help of some kind from Islamic terrorists abroad and the Obama administration is playing it down at this point in the investigation. Daniel Foster at the National Review Online reports:
Police have arrested Faisal Shahzad, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen from Pakistan, in connection with the attempted Times Square bombing. Shahzad is believed to be the purchaser of the SUV used in the plot, and was apprehended at about 11:00 P.M. Monday while already on-board a flight to Dubai from JFK International Airport … International phone records reportedly show calls between Shazhad and/or other suspects and overseas elements; and evidence at the crime scene, including potential fingerprints, also reportedly suggest an international connection.
We will soon learn that Shahzad had some contact with Islamic terrorists in Pakistan. How much training and assistance they provided him is not clear at this time.