Three Pak men arrested in NY over alleged links to Times Square bombing plot

NEW YORK - US security agencies have detained three suspicious men, all from Pakistan, in connection with the botched Times Square bombing plot in raids conducted across several locations in Boston suburbs.

According to Fox News, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Customs Enforcement agents executed search warrants in various locations in the Northeast.

Raids were conducted in Boston suburbs, where two suspects were apprehended while the third arrest was made from Maine.

Search warrants related to the failed New York bombing plot were also executed in Camden County, and on Long Island in New York.

Confirming the arrest of three people, Attorney General Eric Holder said the men have links with Faisal Shahzad, the confessed bomb plotter, but the exact nature of those connections are still unclear.

“There’s at least a basis to believe that one of the things that they did was provide him with funds,” Holder said.

Officials said the New England men have been arrested on “administrative charges” related to immigration violations.

Sources said the arrested men may have “unwittingly assisted in some capacity”, infact they believe that Shahzad may have duped the men into providing money.

US officials are also investigating the possibility of Shahzad using the ‘Hawala” system to get money for his terror plot.

“Hawala”, which is famous in South Asia, is an informal value transfer system in which money does not pass through the banking system, instead funds are transferred to an operator in one country, and corresponding funds, less any fees, are sent to recipients in another country.

Earlier, US officials claimed that Pakistani security agencies have arrested a man having links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who claims that he assisted Shahzad.

American officials declined to identify the suspect, but said US investigators have direct access to him, and described him as a facilitator for the TTP. (ANI)