Conn. man arrested in Times Square bomb attempt

A Connecticut man who recently returned from his native Pakistan and paid cash for a Nissan Pathfinder later equipped to explode in Times Square was arrested last night at Kennedy Airport as he was trying to board a flight for Dubai, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said early this morning.

Holder identified the suspect as Faisal Shahzad, 30, a naturalized American citizen, and said he had been apprehended by Customs and Border Patrol agents. Holder said Shahzad had planned "a deadly attack had it been successful. It is clear that the intent behind this terrorist attack was to kill Americans."

Multiple news reports said he paid $1,300 in cash three weeks ago to buy the Nissan Pathfinder used in the attempted bombing.

The Pakistani connection provides possible evidence that the botched bombing in the heart of New York City has international ties. The man was reportedly identified with the help of fingerprint evidence found inside the Nissan, according to an official who has been briefed by investigators.

One official said as many as three people were involved in the purchase of the materials inside the Pathfinder. Earlier, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said more than one person may have been involved but it was too early to say. "I am not at a juncture to make that sort of determination," he said.

Phone records suggest link

In addition, the man's phone records show a number of overseas telephone calls, indicating possible foreign involvement in the failed attack, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing probe. They did not say which country or countries the calls were made to.

"The investigation is taking a definite turn toward international terrorism," said Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee.

On a day of fast-breaking developments, the White House called Saturday's attempted attack an act of "terrorism." And New York City police officials said they were no longer looking for more video of a man seen changing his shirt near the SUV, as the focus of the probe shifted to the Connecticut man.

The SUV - rigged with firecrackers, propane tanks, gasoline and a nonexplosive grade of fertilizer - was found emitting smoke and making popping noises as it idled without a driver on busy West 45th Street on a warm spring evening. The explosives did not detonate properly.

On Sunday, a group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban claimed credit for the attempted attack - a claim authorities said was not supported by any evidence gathered so far.

Throughout the day Monday, law enforcement officials said the probe was still in its early stages and they had not ruled out the possibility of a larger conspiracy.

Those comments were a departure from statements made over the weekend that suggested the attempted bombing was likely a single act by a lone individual.

"Right now, every lead has to be pursued," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on NBC's "Today." "We would caution against premature decisions one way or the other. . . . I think it's premature to rule in or rule out [anything]. The investigation needs to take its course."

The NYPD, the FBI and other federal agencies are investigating.

Kelly mum on potential ties

Responding to statements by sources of a possible international connection to the attempted bombing, Kelly declined to address it. "I would suggest you go back to those sources and ask them to speak on camera about it," Kelly told reporters.

FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said authorities were "not prepared at this point to say whether any international or domestic terror organization was - or wasn't - involved in this particular plot. We will pursue every lead, both foreign and domestic, to determine who was behind it and their motives."

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said they have been getting help from NYPD liaisons abroad, which is done routinely.

Some investigative avenues have so far proven to be dead ends. A video shot by a Pennsylvania tourist turned out to have little value, police said. At least 120 tipsters have called offering police information, but only three leads were "promising," Browne said.

Image of suspect still sought

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said police were examining footage from "hundreds" of security cameras around Times Square but so far had not found images of someone entering or exiting the Nissan.

By late Monday, officials seemed to downplay the video of the man seen changing his shirt just before the Nissan began smoking. "I don't think at this point we're looking for more cameras with him on them," Browne said.

But a big breakthrough was the discovery of the Nissan's vehicle identification number, which led to the identification of the registered owner of SUV, Browne said. That person has been interviewed and is not a suspect, police said.

The VIN discovery "was a pivotal development in this investigation that continues to pay dividends," Browne said.

Sources familiar with the investigation speaking on condition of anonymity said the vehicle's owner told authorities that he sold the Nissan to a "Hispanic or Middle Eastern-looking man" in a cash-only transaction. The Pathfinder had plates from a pickup truck located at a Stratford, Conn. repair shop, police said.