New York terror suspect arraigned

NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The man accused of plotting to build and detonate bombs in New York was arraigned and ordered held without bail.

At his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Sunday, an assistant district attorney said suspect Jose Pimentel, 27, was about an hour away from completing the construction of his explosive devices when he was arrested, The New York Times reported.

During a news conference Sunday, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said Pimentel had begun plotting the bomb attack in August but it was the death of American-born Muslim militant Anwar al-Awlaki in a drone strike in Yemen in September that refocused Pimentel's efforts, Kelly said.

Kelly said Pimentel, who converted to Islam and is also known as Muhammad Yusuf, had been under surveillance by police for more than two years and was arrested.

"Pimentel talked about killing U.S. military personnel returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly Marines and Army personnel," Kelly said. "He talked about bombing post offices in and around Washington Heights and police cars in New York City, as well as a police station in Bayonne, N.J."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Kelly said Pimentel was not part of a conspiracy, didn't appear to have any known contacts abroad and, in Bloomberg's words, "appears to be a total lone wolf."

Kelly said the Justice Department was made aware of the case against Pimentel. However, he intimated the New York police had to act quickly because of how quickly the case came together.

"We had to act quickly [Saturday] because he was in fact putting this bomb together, drilling a hole, and it would have been not appropriate for us to let him walk out the door with the bomb," Kelly said.

A person knowledgeable about discussions between the police and the Justice Department said the FBI declined to become involved with the case because of issues the federal agency had with it, the Times said. The person declined to say what the issues were.