Developments In Times Square Car Bombing

A Connecticut man was being sought Monday in the failed plot to blow up a bomb-laden SUV in Times Square, sources said.

This “person of interest” bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder that was abandoned with the engine running – and with primitive, but potentially deadly payload in the rear – just two weeks ago, law enforcement and police sources told The Daily News.

Investigators aren't certain whether he is the same man who drove the rolling bomb to the Crossroads of the World, but he has not been seen by his girlfriend – and has not shown up at his home or job – since the frightening incident on Saturday night.

Detectives from the NYPD and FBI identified the SUV owner after tracking down the registration of the previous owner, who told investigators he'd sold the vehicle.

The mystery man met the seller through craigslist.com and paid $1,300 cash for the Pathfinder, the Daily News has learned.

The revelation came as:

– The News learned from sources that forensic evidence found in the Pathfinder points to the possibility that whoever prepared the car bomb has links to foreign terrorists.

via Hunt is on for missing Conn. man who bought car bomb Nissan just 2 weeks ago on Craigslist.

What I want to know is, why aren’t they releasing the name of the man who bought the car? Wouldn’t that help if authorities are looking for him? I mean, I have an idea why, but surely political correctness wouldn’t trump the public safety in a case like this. Would it?

UPDATE: Well, as you commenters have pointed out, now we know: He is a Pakistani-American named Faisal Shahzad. I guess the concern was not to make people jump to the conclusion that the suspect is a Muslim.