Suspect Charged in NY Bombing Plot
Authorities in New York have charged a 27-year-old Al Qaeda sympathizer on Sunday with three-terrorism related counts and two charges after he was arrested on Saturday, on allegations that he was plotting to bomb police patrol cars and postal facilities.
New York City police officers arrested the suspect, Jose Pimentel from Washington Heights, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a news conference Sunday.
This would be the 14th terrorist plot since 9/11 targeting New York City launched by Al Qaeda or Al Qaeda affiliates, the Mayor said.
The suspect also planned to bomb United States troops returning from abroad. He faces terrorism related charges, the Mayor said.
“The suspect was a so-called lone wolf, motivated by his own resentment of the presence of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as inspired by Al Qaeda propaganda," Bloomberg said. "He was not part of a larger conspiracy emanating from abroad."
Bloomberg said this case was reminiscent of another lone wolf plot in 2004 that targeted Herald Square subway station and another case earlier this year in which a lone wolf planned to attack a large synagogue. Both were uncovered by police.
Pimentel was under New York City Police surveillance for at least a year, with the help of a confidential informant, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
At the moment of his capture Saturday, Pimentel had an explosive substance that he planned to use against others and property to terrorize the public.
"We had to act quickly yesterday because he was in fact putting this bomb together. He was drilling holes and it would have been not appropriate for us to let him walk out the door with that bomb," Kelly said,
According to Kelly, Pimentel was motivated after Al-Qaeda's cleric Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in September 30.