NEW YORK // Describing himself as a "Muslim soldier", the Pakistani-born American behind a botched car bomb raid warned a Manhattan courtroom that fellow jihadists would continue to attack the United States.
Faisal Shahzad, 30, admitted travelling to Pakistan to receive bomb-making training from the Pakistani Taliban, called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and receiving US$12,000 (Dh44,076) from the extremist group to carry out the failed plot on May 1.
"I want to plead guilty, and I'm going to plead guilty 100 times over," he said, "because until the hour the US pulls its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and stops the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and in Pakistan, and stops the occupation of Muslim lands, and stops killing the Muslims, and stops reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking US, and I plead guilty to that."
Shahzad, who has a wife and two children living in Pakistan, admitted 10 charges on Monday, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted terrorism transcending national borders. He faces mandatory life in prison after pleading guilty and is due to be sentenced on October 5.
Wearing a white prayer cap and handcuffed, Shahzad, who became a US citizen last year, told the packed-out Federal District Court in Manhattan that his intention was to cause "damage to the building, injure the people or kill the people".
"One has to understand where I'm coming from," Shahzad said in a lengthy address, which was frequently interrupted by questions from US District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum. "I consider myself a Mujahid, a Muslim-soldier."
Shahzad parked an SUV in Times Square with its engine running and hazard lights flashing on a balmy Saturday evening last month. "I ignited the fuses and I gave the time of 2.5 to 5 minutes and I left the car ? I was waiting to hear a sound," he said.
But street vendors alerted police to the smoking vehicle within minutes and thousands of people were evacuated from the bustling theatre district. Bomb specialists defused the crude device, which included firecrackers and propane gas tanks.
The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the failed bombing, but Shahzad said he worked alone in the US and the militants did not tell him how or what to attack. "I got the cash, I worked on it, I made the bomb, and I drove it to Times Square," he said.
After parking the vehicle in Times Square, Shahzad said he walked to Grand Central station and took a train back to Connecticut, carrying a 9mm rifle in a laptop case that he said was for self-defence, "just in case I was attacked, I was captured".
The son of a retired Pakistani vice air marshal was arrested aboard a Dubai-bound jetliner at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport two days after the attempted attack. He had been on his way back to Pakistan. He had returned to the US earlier this year after spending several months in Pakistan.
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.