Case Studies with Questions and Answers
Chapter 3: Religious-Based Terrorism
On July 3, 2009 an attempted car bombing of Times Square was foiled after two street vendors noticed a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder loaded with explosives and alerted an NYPD patrolman. Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistan-born resident, was arrested two days later for his involvement in the attack. Shahzad claimed that his actions were "inspired by" Anwar al-Awlaki, who's goal was to follow the "cause" of al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda is infamously known for being Middle Eastern extremists who subscribe to the literal interpretation of the Koran. Although Shahzad had renounced his citizenship to Pakistan he later claimed that he didn't mean anything that was said during his naturalization process and his plan had always been to "kill Americans."
Though investigators did not reach Shahzad prior to his attempt, his apprehension would not have been successful without the collaboration of informants and information provided by international terrorist agents.