Updated on
Summary
The Times Square bomb suspect claimed during his lengthy interrogation that he received financial support from the Pakistani Taliban for his failed one-man operation, two U.S. law enforcement officials close to the probe said Friday.Investigators believe funding for Faisal Shahzad in the United States was channeled through an underground money transfer network known as hawala, the officials said. But, one official told, there's a belief that no one in the U.S. who got him the funds was aware of what they were for.The Pakistani-American was the only person in the United States who was operational in the plot to attack Times Square with a crude gasoline-and-propane car bomb on May 1, the official said. The bomb did not explode and no one was hurt.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation has not been completed.The attempted attack set off a massive probe involving hundreds of federal agents in several cities. Nearly three weeks later, investigators have so far concluded that once he was funded, Shahzad acted alone, the officials said.Three men were arrested last week in New England on immigration charges as authorities followed the money trail. Authorities said they were suspected of providing money for Shahzad; a prosecutor said one had Shahzad's cell phone number and his first name written on an envelope in his apartment.All have denied knowing anything about the plot.They have no connection to this man, Saher Macarius, a lawyer for two of the men, said Friday.
