Pakistani-American terror suspect Faisal Shahzad was today indicted on 10 counts of terrorism and weapons charges in the botched Times Square car bombing and was also accused of receiving funds and explosives training from Tehrik-e-Taliban.
Shahzad, son of a retired Pakistan Air Force Vice Marshal, was charged by a grand jury in US District Court in Manhattan that added five charges to the original case against him.
The jury charged 30-year-old Shahzad with conspiring to use weapon of mass destruction, attempting an act of terrorism and transportation of an explosive.
The indictment alleged that Shahzad was trained in Pakistan by affiliates of Tehrik-i-Taliban. The prosecutors also claimed that he received the money for the attack from Pakistani militants.
If found guilty, Shahzad could be in prison for life.
The US authorities had suspected the hand of the Pakistani Taliban in the attack since the beginning of the investigation.
"The facts alleged in this indictment show that the Pakistani Taliban facilitated Faisal Shahzad's attempted attack on American soil," attorney general Eric H Holder Jr said in a statement.
"Our nation averted serious loss of life in this attempted bombing, but it is a reminder that we face an evolving threat that we must continue to fight with every tool available to the government," he added.
US attorney Preet Bharara said Shahzad conspired with the Pakistani Taliban "to wreak death and destruction in Times Square."
Shahzad was apprehended at John F Kennedy airport while trying to escape to Pakistan via Dubai on May 3 and has been cooperating with the federal authorities by providing them with information.
The father of two worked as a financial analyst in Connecticut where he lived with his wife.
If the Times Square bombing was successful, Shahzad also allegedly planned to attack four other targets -- Rockefeller Center, a Grand Central Terminal, the World Financial Center and the Connecticut headquarters of defence contractor Sikorsky.
Shahzad also allegedly received money from a man in Pakistan who is believed to be working for Tehrik-i-Taliban, according to prosecutors.
The suspect then used this money to buy the Nissan Pathfinder and a 9-millimetre Kel-Tec rifle, which was found inside his car at the airport on the day of his arrest.
The indictment states that on February 25, Shahzad allegedly received USD 5,000 in cash in Massachusetts from a "co-conspirator," who's identified only as "CC-1."
The first round of money was followed by another $7,000 that was picked up in Long Island also allegedly from "CC-1."
