President Obama said Tuesday that the administration would be looking to determine “what if any connection this individual has to terrorist groups and it includes collecting critical intelligence as we work to disrupt any future attacks.”
How a 'multifaceted' investigation works
Obama referred to the ongoing investigation as “multifaceted.”
Michael Wildes, a former federal prosecutor, says that means the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is acting in concert with other intelligence services around the world, including the Pakistani Intelligence Service.
"Knowing who this person consorted with over the past year is significant,” says Mr. Wildes, who now practices immigration law in New York.
Any investigation of Shahzad is likely to involve a close look at his finances, says Joseph King, a professor of terrorism at John Jay College in New York and a former federal agent.
“You want to look at possible movement of currency to him via his bank statements,” says Mr. King. “His finances would have to be looked at every step.”
For example, MSNBC is reporting Shahzad’s house in Shelton, Conn., is in foreclosure. However, he allegedly paid $1,300 in cash for the vehicle that was left in Times Square, which carried a bomb that failed to explode. “Where did he get the money?” asks King.
