Times Square bomb plot suspect video threatens US | World News - Hindustan Times
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Times Square bomb plot suspect video threatens US

AFP | By, Dubai
Jul 15, 2010 12:45 AM IST

The man arrested for plotting a car bombing in New York's Times Square appeared in a video on Al Arabiya television today in which he said he planned to attack the United States.

The man arrested for plotting a car bombing in New York's Times Square appeared in a video on Al Arabiya television on Wednesday in which he said he planned to attack the United States.

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"This attack on the United States will be a revenge for all the mujahedeen (holy warriors)and oppressed Muslims, including Abu Musab al Zarqawi," the late leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, said Faisal Shahzad.

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The recording, whose authenticity could not immediately be confirmed, was made in English and had an Arabic voiceover.

"I will carry this attack on their behalf, and I hope that it will please Muslims," the Pakistani American Shahzad said in the first video linking him to the abortive May 1 bomb plot and Al Qaeda.

"With jihad (holy war), the basis of Islam can be enforced and the word of Allah and his religion will prevail," he said.

"Abandoning jihad destroys the religion and puts Muslims in an insulting position as they get robbed of land and authority," he added.

Dressed in Afghan fighters like attire with a black turban and trimmed beard, Shahzad appeared in a video that carried the "Umar Media" brand, with an AK-47 rifle apparently added by video editing to his left.

"Eight years have passed since the war in Afghanistan. You will see that the Muslims' war has just started, and we will tell you how Islam will spread all over the world," he said, reading at some point from a book.

Dubai based Al Arabiya said the video was 40 minutes long. It said Shahzad appeared in the video with Faqir Mohammed, the Taliban leader in Pakistan's region of Bajaur, but such footage was not aired.

Shahzad, 30, who was charged with international terrorism, allegedly drove a Nissan sports utility vehicle crammed with a large but malfunctioning bomb into Manhattan's busiest neighbourhood, as thousands flocked to theatres and tourist attractions.

He was arrested just before his flight left New York's JFK airport and 53 hours after police found the homemade bomb smouldering in the SUV parked outside a theatre staging "The Lion King" musical.

The notorious Zarqawi, who orchestrated a bloody campaign of attacks and beheadings, was killed north of Baghdad in a US air strike in 2006 after long eluding capture as Iraq's most wanted fugitive.

News reports at the time of his arrest said Shahzad lived in Connecticut and had recently returned from a five month trip to Pakistan including the city of Peshawar, a known jumping off point for Al Qaeda and Taliban recruits.

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