Advertisement

Mass. Man Had Times Sq. Suspect's Number, Feds Say

02:19
Download Audio
Resume

A Pakistani man arrested in Massachusetts during the investigation into the failed Times Square bombing had the primary suspect’s phone number and first name in his cell phone and written on an envelope, a government attorney said Thursday.

Now, federal authorities are asking an immigration judge not to allow Aftab Ali to leave the country.

The federal government objects to letting Aftab Ali leave the U.S. because federal agents say they found an envelope and a cell phone in his room, both with the phone number of Faisal Shazad, the alleged Times Square bomber.

Ali appeared before an immigration judge via closed-circuit TV from Suffolk County Jail. His lawyer asked the judge to let Ali leave the U.S. for Pakistan. Ali was due to leave the country through New York on an Emirates flight to Dubai on the day he was arrested.

Ali originally came to the U.S. on a visa granted to fiancees of U.S. citizens. He was due to marry a U.S. soldier he had met in Kuwait, but she broke off the engagement.

Defense attorney Saher Macarius said earlier Thursday that Khan had never heard of Shahzad before his arrest.

This program aired on May 20, 2010.

Headshot of Fred Thys

Fred Thys Reporter
Fred Thys reported on politics and higher education for WBUR.

More…

Advertisement

More from WBUR

Listen Live
Close