A man is under arrest after being investigated by the New York FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) for allegedly wanting to shoot up Times Square, after speaking about explosives, suicide vests and hand grenades, a senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation tells News 4.
The officials say the Queens man was under surveillance for some time and was being closely monitored by authorities; an undercover helped track him. He had allegedly spoken of wanting to get or use a suicide bomb vest and wanting to attack politicians in New York City and Washington, D.C. But the senior official says he eventually came around to wanting to shoot up the Crossroads of the World — and he allegedly tried to buy guns Thursday, which prompted his arrest. Sources say he was trying to buy guns with their serial numbers removed.
The man, whose name was not immediately released, is expected to appear in Brooklyn federal court later Friday.
