Islamic Information Center - US Captures a Pakistani Bombing Suspect in NYC Scare; Muslim Responsible for Alerting Authorities

US Captures a Pakistani Bombing Suspect in NYC Scare; Muslim Responsible for Alerting Authorities

May 5, 2010

Last week, State and Federal authorities were alerted to a suspicious vehicle in Times Square, New York City. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the vehicle was a car bomb. Authorities were able to successfully defuse the weapon, preventing any explosion or injuries to innocent bystanders. The Islamic Information Center condemns every act of attempted or actual terrorism, including this car bomb, and calls upon the world community to stand together against this form of indiscriminate violence. It is also important to note that in this case, it was a Muslim who originally reported the suspicious vehicle and helped authorities to foil the attack.

(WASHINGTON DC -- MAY 5, 2010) Last week, State and Federal authorities were alerted to a suspicious vehicle in Times Square, New York City. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the vehicle was a car bomb. Authorities were able to successfully defuse the weapon, preventing any explosion or injuries to innocent bystanders. The Islamic Information Center condemns every act of attempted or actual terrorism, including this car bomb, and calls upon the world community to stand together against this form of indiscriminate violence.

Earlier this week, authorities captured Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistan-born American citizen, as the chief suspect in the case. The suspected Times Square bomber is cooperating with investigators who want details about his contacts in Pakistan who had allegedly planned and supported the attack, postponing indefinitely any court appearance, law enforcement sources said on Wednesday.

IIC would like to strongly reiterate that Mr. Shahzad is not representative of Muslims, Pakistanis, or Pakistani Americans - the majority of whom are a peace loving and law abiding group. Furthermore, any form of terrorism directly contradicts the teachings of Islam, and the life of Prophet Muhammad and his Holy Progeny. If Mr. Shahzad is guilty of this crime, IIC asks for him to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

It is also important to note that in this case, it was a Muslim who originally reported the suspicious vehicle and helped authorities to foil the attack. According to the TimesOnline, Aliou Niasse, a street vendor selling framed photographs of New York, said that he was the first to spot the car containing the bomb, which pulled up in front of his cart on the corner of 45th street and Broadway next to the Marriott hotel.

Mr. Niasse is a Senagalese Muslim immigrant who works as a photograph vendor on Times Square. The Islamic Information Center commends Mr. Niasse for his quick thinking which prevented a terrorist attack in our country that would have otherwise resulted in tragic consequences.

As the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights notes, “South Asian, and Muslim communities may yield useful information to those fighting terrorism. Arabs and Arab Americans also offer the government an important source of Arabic speakers and translators. The singling out of Arabs, South Asians, Muslims, and Sikhs for investigation regardless of whether any credible evidence links them to terrorism will simply alienate these individuals and compromise the anti-terrorism effort.”

Reflecting on Niasse’s good samaritanism Muslim-American author Sumbul Ali-Karamali writes, “It’s somewhat consoling to know that the man who first noticed the smoking Nissan Pathfinder and sought help is also Muslim, a Senegalese immigrant. … I grew up Muslim in this country, with Muslim friends and non-Muslim friends, and there was very little difference between the two groups. We were all American.”.