New York, Jun 8 (AP/UNB) — A New York City man accused of planning a terrorist attack on Times Square is being held without bail.
Ashiqul Alam was arraigned Friday on charges he bought illegal guns from an undercover agent to move the plot forward.
Federal prosecutors said in court that the 22-year-old is a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Alam moved to the U.S. from Bangladesh 12 years ago and is a legal permanent resident.
In court papers, prosecutors said he spoke about terrorist organizations including ISIS during months of conversations with the agent and “repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing firearms and explosives for a terrorist attack in the New York City area.”
According to court papers, Alam and the agent made a trip to Times Square to record video of the area.
His lawyer, James Darrow, declined comment.
Federal prosecutors have charged a New York City man with buying illegal guns from an undercover agent as part of a planned terrorist attack on Times Square.
Prosecutors said in court papers made public Friday that 22-year-old Ashiqul Alam spoke about terrorist organizations including ISIS during months of conversations with the agent.
They said he “repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing firearms and explosives for a terrorist attack in the New York City area.”
Alam is in federal custody awaiting arraignment. Alam’s lawyer, James Darrow, declined comment.
Prosecutors say he was nabbed in a sting in which the undercover officer sold him a pair of semiautomatic pistols with obliterated serial numbers.
According to court papers, Alam and the undercover agent made a trip to Times Square in January and recorded video of the area.
Federal prosecutors have charged a New York City man with buying illegal guns from an undercover agent as part of a planned terrorist attack on Times Square.
Prosecutors said in court papers made public Friday that 22-year-old Ashiqul Alam spoke about terrorist organizations including ISIS during months of conversations with the agent.
They said he “repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing firearms and explosives for a terrorist attack in the New York City area.”
Alam is in federal custody awaiting arraignment. It was unclear whether he had a lawyer.
Prosecutors say he was nabbed in a sting in which the undercover officer sold him a pair of semiautomatic pistols with obliterated serial numbers.
According to court papers, Alam and the undercover agent made a trip to Times Square in January and recorded video of the area.
Authorities have arrested a New York man who talked about wanting to throw a grenade in Times Square.
Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press the man was placed under investigation over the comments, and then arrested late Thursday after trying to buy a weapon.
He’s facing weapons-related charges.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the charges hadn’t been made public yet.
They called the man’s statements “aspirational” and never reached a stage that endangered the public.
The man is expected to be arraigned Friday at a federal court in Brooklyn Friday.
Times Square has been a target of attacks before. An Islamic militant tried to detonate a car bomb there in 2010.
In 2017, a man detonated a bomb in a tunnel linking the square to a bus terminal.
