US officials believe Shahzad used “Hawala” system to finance Times Square plot

NEW YORK - US officials probing the bungled Times Square bombing plot, have established that Faisal Shahzad, the American civilian of Pakistan origin accused of masterminding the terror plot, had used the “Hawala” system to get money for his nefarious plans.

The Hawala system, which is famous in South Asia, is a courier system used by terrorists and criminals to conceal the flow of money without raising alarms among the law enforcement agencies.

CBS News quoted officials involved in the probe as saying that it was unclear whether Shahzad used the Hawala system in part or totally in obtaining financing for the botched attack, including the purchase of the SUV, and his ticket to Dubai from Kennedy Airport to escape the US agencies.

Meanwhile, in another major development in the case, US security agencies detained three suspicious men, all from Pakistan, in connection with Times Square bombing plot in raids conducted across several locations in Boston suburbs.

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.

Another man having links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who claims that he assisted Shahzad, was nabbed by Pakistani security agencies earlier. (ANI)