Shahzad Sentenced To Life In Prison

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Shahzad Sentenced To Life In Prison

October 5, 2010 10:30 AM
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Faisal Shahzad – AP Photo/Orkut.com

Reporting Irene Cornell


NEW YORK (CBS 2 / WCBS 880) — Feisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-born terror suspect, was sentenced to life in prison for trying to detonate a bomb in the heart of Times Square on May 1.

Federal prosecutors said it was fortunate Shahzad did not have the know-how to pull off his plan. In an attempt to show what would have happened if he was able to set off his explosive-laden Nissan Pathfinder, the government constructed and triggered a duplicate bomb in an empty field, just as powerful as the makeshift but deadly concoction that failed to explode in Times Square.

In a previously-recorded Jihadist recruitment propaganda video, Shahzad proudly boasted of his hate for America. “I have been trying to join my brothers ever since 9/11 happened. I am planning to wage an attack inside America,” he said.

Investigators said the bomb as designed had a 100-yard blast radius and the ability to spread flames and debris outward in a concentrated 140-degree arc.

(video here)

Instead, Shahzad’s bomb smoked and fizzled.

He was arrested two days later, snatched off a plane bound for Dubai.

Former federal prosecutor Annmarie McAvoy said Shahzad’s plan, although flawed, sent a powerful message to other would be terrorists. “He’s shown them essentially how to do this very easily, with just one person, and a few thousand dollars what you can accomplish,” she said. “These folks are out to kill us. That’s what it’s about.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/10/...ife-in-prison/