- Title: USA: Accused NY Times Square bomber denied bail
- Date: 19th May 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 18, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SECURITY PERSONNEL PUTTING UP BARRIERS OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2010 13:00
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- Location: Usa
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- Country: USA
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- Reuters ID: LVA5476DE503YGWW4LT6204VMOIG
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- Story Text: Suspected Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad was ordered held without bail on Tuesday (May 18) at his first court appearance since his arrest two weeks ago.
Magistrate Judge James Francis remanded Shahzad in custody after his court-appointed defense lawyer, Julia Gatto, opted not to challenge the prosecutors' request that he remain jailed pending trial.
Shahzad, a Pakistani-American, is accused of parking a crude car bomb in New York's crowded Times Square on May 1. He was arrested two days later and faces charges including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and trying to kill and maim people.
Prosecutors say he has provided valuable intelligence since his arrest two weeks ago.
Shahzad, 30, has been charged with five felonies in the May 1 incident: attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, using a destructive device in an attempted violent crime, transporting and receiving explosives, and trying to damage and destroy property with fire and explosives.
The unusually long time between Shahzad's arrest and his first appearance prompted a strongly worded letter from a defense lawyer who called the elapsed time "unprecedented".
It remained unclear when Shahzad was assigned a lawyer. Authorities say he has been cooperating voluntarily with the investigation.
Shahzad, who lived in the neighboring state of Connecticut and had recently returned to the United States after spending several months in Pakistan, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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