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Times Square Bomber Faisal Shahzad Sentenced

By Jason Beahm on October 06, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Failed Times Square car bomber Faisal Shahzad said in court that the "war with Muslims just begun," but if that's the case, he won't be participating from the battlefield. Judge Miriam Cedarbaum sentenced Shahzad to life in prison, noting that Shahzad failed to show remorse for his actions. Judge Cedarbaum said the sentence would hopefully serve as an "adequate deterrent to those inclined to follow the defendant and to protect the public against the crimes of this defendant."

Judge Cedarbaum asked Shahzad about the oath that he took in order to become a citizen. Shahzad admitted that he "swore but I didn't mean it."

Shahzad pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, conspiracy and attempt to commit international terrorism, all related to his botched attempt to detonate a car bomb in Times Square. Fortunately the bomb did not detonate and Shahzad was captured.

If it had detonated, the damage could have been substantial. Shahzad had studied webcam footage to pick a crowded pedestrian location and hit it at the busiest time possible, hoping to kill as many people as possible, CNN reports. In addition, after his arrest, Shahzad waived his Miranda rights and told investigators that he had planned to detonate a second bomb in New York City if he hadn't been apprehended.

The Times Square bomber hearing was peppered with a number of notable quotes and outbursts by Shahzad, he interrupted the judge a number of times and pointed to the ceiling and said Allah Akhbar, translated as "God is great." The outbursts and quotes included:

  • "The defeat of the U.S. is imminent, inshallah,"
  • "Brace yourself, the war with Muslims has just begun."
  • "The Quran gives us the right to defend ourselves."
  • "My sentence reflects life in this world, not life in the hereafter ... I'm happy with the deal that God has given me."

The last quote further reinforces the fact that if nothing else, Shahzad's beliefs and intentions were serious. He is now behind bars permanently, which makes prosecutors happy. And as Faisal Shahzad said that he is happy with the deal, this appears to be a rare criminal case where everyone walks away happy.

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