New York, NY – Times Square Bomber Vows More Attacks On The Way

New York, NY – Faisal Shahzad called himself a Muslim soldier and threatened more attacks to come after the botched May 1 Times Square terror bomb attempt.

Shahzad did not appear the least bit remorseful when he pleaded guilty to 10 federal crimes in a packed federal courtroom.

The Pakistani-born U.S. citizen was cool and collected when he said he wanted “to plead guilty and a hundred times more” for the terror plot, and that if the U.S. did not get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, halt drone attacks and stop meddling in Muslim lands, “we will be attacking U.S.”

He apparently became radicalized over the issue of U.S. drone attacks directed against militant groups in the northern part of his home country Pakistan.

Shahzad entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan just days after a his federal grand jury indictment. Some of the charges carried mandatory life sentences.

It was a strange performance from a 30-year-old Shelton Connecticut man who had actually been cooperating with the government.

“Consistent with someone who craves attention and will get it by whatever means is handy at any particular time,” said Zachary Carter, former U.S. attorney.

According to the indictment, Shahzad received a total of $12,000 prior to the attack from the Pakistani Taliban through cash drop-offs in Massachusetts and Long Island.

Shahzad was accused in the indictment of receiving explosives training in Waziristan, Pakistan, during a five-week trip to that country. He returned to the United States in February.

The indictment said he received $5,000 in cash on Feb. 25 from a co-conspirator in Pakistan and $7,000 more on April 10, allegedly sent at the co-conspirator’s direction.

So far, 14 suspects have already been picked up in the United States and Pakistan on information provided by Shahzad the moment he was arrested. The naturalized citizen, who has a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Bridgeport and had worked as a financial analyst for Elizabeth Arden, admitted to receiving some terror training in Pakistan.

Attorney General Eric Holder said the Pakistani Taliban “facilitated Faisal Shahzad’s attempted attack on American soil.”

Experts familiar with terror cases said Shazad’s courtroom appearance should not have been considered that startling. “Shahzad had nothing to do and no place to go. The man was completely bagged and tagged,” said Ron Kuby, defense lawyer.

Shahzad made his plea and accompanying statement as U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum began asking him a lengthy series of questions to ensure he understood his rights before accepting his plea.

Cedarbaum asked Shahzad if he understood he might spend the rest of his life in prison. He said he did.

At one point, she asked him if he was sure he wanted to plead guilty.

Shahzad also said he is “part of the answer to the U.S. terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people.”

He said he actually tried to set off three separate bombs in an SUV parked near a Broadway theater May 1 to injure and kill people, but that all three failed to ignite. The Bridgeport, Conn., resident was arrested two days later. 

Shahzad was arrested trying to leave the country May 3, two days after a gasoline-and-propane bomb failed to ignite in an SUV parked near a Broadway theater.

Shahzad, born in Pakistan, moved to the United States when he was 18.