May 2nd, 2010
05:56 AM ET

Official: Times Square incident similar to Glasgow bombing

As authorities conduct their investigation into a car bomb found in Times Square, a federal law enforcement official said the incident was most similar to the events leading up to the 2007 bombing at the airport in Glasgow.

In June 2007, authorities discovered two explosives-filled Mercedes sedans in central London.

One of the cars was parked outside a packed nightclub near Piccadilly Circus and the other was parked just off Trafalgar Square. Like Times Square, both locations are major tourist spots in London.

An ambulance crew notified police about the first car after they saw smoke coming from it. The second car was towed for a parking offense but drew suspicion because it smelled of gasoline.

Officials later said both cars cars were filled with fuel, gas canisters and nails. Police managed to defuse them.

The following day, with attention still focused on the averted attacks in the capital, a Jeep sped through the barriers outside Glasgow International Airport and slammed head-on into the terminal.

The Jeep, filled with propane gas, burst into flames and created a fireball. The driver and passenger jumped out of the car.

The driver, Kafeel Ahmed, set himself on fire and later died in the hospital; the passenger was identified as Bilal Abdulla, an Iraqi doctor who had been practicing medicine in Scotland.

Later that day, police arrested Mohammed Asha as he was driving with his wife on a highway in Cheshire, England. Police said Asha, a doctor of Palestinian descent who grew up in Jordan, conspired with Abdulla to carry out the explosions, but the jury did not agree.

Based on other evidence collected in the investigation, police believe the London bombs were to have been the first in a series of similar attacks. They said it was only luck that prevented the London bombs from going off.

In December 2008, a London jury found Abdulla guilty of conspiracy to murder and conspiring to cause explosions. In a split verdict, the jury acquitted Asha.

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Filed under: Terrorism • Times Square Car Bomb • U.S.
soundoff (22 Responses)
  1. angus Clan

    Its an Exact copy of what happened at Glasgow Airport a few years back,

    Must be a idiot kid, not professional. The ones who did the glasgow airport also left one outside london night club were doctors from Iraq on visas.

    The only problem there was when the london one was discovered the next day they made a new one the raced up to scotland and they all drove in it together into the airport and set themselves alight to blow it up.

    So NY should beware for a few days and heightened alert should be raised until this person or persons are caught.

    Don't be fooled this person had the balls to do this he will do it again and will take his own life too if he believes this much his mind is already made up... keep an eye out. threat level should be raised.

    May 2, 2010 at 1:16 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Early Salter

    Just goes to show how pathetic the Brits have become since they have let the muslims take over there country.By letting this evil nut loose again....he is going to attemp another explosion on more inocent people. When that happens,I hope this stupid jury is right there in the middle of it!

    May 2, 2010 at 2:20 pm | Report abuse |
  3. s

    similar alright to the glasgow attacks did anyone think maybe that the guys responsible may have left the engine running and the warning lights on so more people investigate the scene which if it went off would have caused more damage.either way i hope those responsible are caught

    May 2, 2010 at 2:21 pm | Report abuse |
  4. imnotrich

    Right, duh, this was a terrorist attack...but so was Ft. Hood.

    Someone is asleep at the switch. For all his faults, after 9/11 none of this garbage occurred while Bush was on watch.

    May 2, 2010 at 5:14 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Tuna

    What if the dud car bomb in Times Square was carrying agents of biological warfare, and the "dud bomb" was to serve as an attractant to the vehicle

    May 2, 2010 at 5:42 pm | Report abuse |
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