Shahzad Faisal, Suspect in Times Square SUV Bomb, Arrested At JFK Airport

Shahzad Faisal, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, has been arrested at JFK airport, according to authorities. Investigation into the history of the vehicle used in the attempt led to the suspect, officials said.

Update: Apparently Shahzad was actually removed from an Emirates plane on the runway, along with two other people. NPR is reporting that investigators found something in the Pathfinder that led them to JFK, but so far are not revealing any more details. This from this morning’s Times. [GM]

The man, Faisal Shahzad, 30, was taken into custody at Kennedy Airport on board an Emirates flight to Dubai, according to the airline and an early-morning statement Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. delivered at the Justice Department in Washington.

Two other passengers were removed from the plane, Emirates said, but it was unclear whether they were connected with the bombing attempt.

From the original New York Times report:

Mr. Shahzad was taken into custody at Kennedy Airport, apparently trying to flee, one of the people said. Charges against Mr. Shahzad, who had returned recently from a trip to Pakistan, were not announced.

The authorities began focusing on him after they tracked the vehicle to its previously registered owner in Bridgeport, Conn., who had advertised it for sale on several Web sites. He paid cash, and the sale was handled without any formal paperwork.

The former owner told investigators that it appeared the buyer was of Middle Eastern or Hispanic descent, but could not recall his name. It was unclear how agents from the Joint Terrorist Task Force identified him.

Police followed several dead-end leads attached to the car– including false license plates– before arriving at its registered owner, who had sold it to Faisal over the trading website Craigslist for cash. Faisal’s name was in the emails through which the car was purchased.

Fox News is reporting that authorities are looking into “similarities between the failed attack in New York City and both the 2007 attack on Glasgow’s airport in Scotland and the attempted bombing of a London nightclub the same year. Propane gas and gasoline were used in all three incidents.”

UPDATE (1:40 AM): “The attempt was to kill Americans”

US Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at a press conference moments ago to officially announce the arrest. Holder noted that the Faisal was at JFK airport attempting to board a flight to Dubai. He called the investigation into the case “multifaceted” and “aggressive” and that “it is important that the American people remain vigilant… any American who notices suspicious activity should report it to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.” Video of the press conference below:

Update #3: The BBC has a profile of Shahzad. He’s 30, is married with two children, and lived in Connecticut.