The number from a disposable cellphone led FBI agents to the suspect
arrested Monday night for allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square
on Saturday evening, according to a senior official.
“They were able to basically get one phone number and by running it
through a number of databases, figure out who they thought the guy was,”
the official said.
A huge law-enforcement force tracked the suspect through the afternoon
and evening. He was arrested at 11:30 p.m. at John F. Kennedy
International Airport in New York City.
The vehicle identification number had been removed from the bomb-laden
1993 Nissan Pathfinder left in Times Square. But investigators were able
to lift it from a second location on the vehicle, and used that to
track down a Connecticut man who said he had sold the Pathfinder for
cash about three weeks ago.
The man had offered the vehicle on Craigslist, and FBI agents were able
to recover the number from a disposable cellphone that had been used by
the buyer.
The suspect didn't still have the phone. But using a lot of technology
and access to database, agents located the suspect.
Appearing in person in the Justice Department briefing room at 1:30
a.m., Attorney General Eric Holder said the suspect, a Pakistan-born
American named Faisal Shahzad, 30, was arrested at John F. Kennedy
International Airport while attempting to board a flight for Dubai.
