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To: thouworm; MamaDearest; Rushmore Rocks; Arthur Wildfire! March; All
Day before bombing, Shahzad made a dry run in Manhattan, source says

New York (CNN) -- Faisal Shahzad made a practice run in Manhattan the day before he allegedly tried to blow up a car bomb in Times Square, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of his questioning.

Last Friday, Shahzad drove his white Isuzu from Connecticut through Times Square, where he staked out potential locations for the following night's planned attack, the source said. He then parked the Isuzu several blocks away from Times Square, though the precise location was unclear, and took a train back to Connecticut, the source said.

On Saturday night, with his recently acquired Nissan Pathfinder loaded with his makeshift explosives, Shahzad drove southbound along Manhattan's East River on FDR Drive to the 49th Street exit, the source said.

Shahzad then pulled over and reached into the Pathfinder's rear compartment where he attempted to set into motion the process needed to set off the homemade bomb, the source said.

The source, who did not explain how Shahzad had attempted to set off the bomb, said he then took a number of turns and wound up entering Times Square by driving south down Seventh Avenue. The source said Shahzad told investigators he turned right onto 45th Street toward Eighth Avenue because he saw a place to pull over.

It's unclear why Shahzad left the Pathfinder's engine running and hazard lights blinking.

But because of an incredible goof, Shahzad couldn't use his escape car. He had accidentally left the keys to that vehicle in the Pathfinder that he thought was about to blow up, the source said.

He apparently went to a train station, where he boarded a Metro North train back to Connecticut.

Another law enforcement source said investigators found a train receipt used by Shahzad that is stamped about 7 p.m., a half hour after a witness notified authorities that the car in Times Square was filing with smoke.

Sources say investigators believe he ran to catch the train that pulled out around 7 or 7:15 Saturday night.

270 posted on 05/06/2010 2:32:15 AM PDT by MestaMachine (De inimico non loquaris sed cogites- Don't wish ill for your enemy; plan it)
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To: MestaMachine
Excerpt:

Russian special forces storm oil tanker, free ship

The force commander for the EU Naval Force tells The Associated Press that Russian special forces stormed a disabled oil tanker and arrested the Somali pirates aboard.

Rear Adm. Jan Thornqvist says Thursday's dawn raid took place against the Liberian-flagged ship Moscow University, which had been boarded by pirates early Wednesday.

The special forces had been aboard a Russian warship that rushed to the scene after the attack. The special forces boarded a helicopter and rappelled down to the Moscow University, which is carrying 86,000 tons of crude oil worth roughly $50 million.

Thornqvist says shots were fired during the raid but that no one was injured and the crew is safe. The pirates were arrested.

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Think maybe the pirates would take a hint?
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271 posted on 05/06/2010 2:34:17 AM PDT by MestaMachine (De inimico non loquaris sed cogites- Don't wish ill for your enemy; plan it)
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