In case you needed any reminding, terrorists would still really love to kill some people in New York. Wednesday's arrest of Saudi student Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari in Texas came with allegations that NYC was among the targets eyed by the one-man terror cell. And yesterday NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters that when it comes to terrorism, New York's still got it.
"We also know that he had a list, a sort of a to-do list that said, 'Come to New York and spend a week here,' " Kelly said. "This does not surprise us. Our operating assumption is that New York is at the top of the terrorist target list." Eat your heart out, LA? Aldawsari allegedly mentions NYC twice in his writings and e-mails to himself. The Feds say he was contemplating coming to NYC and planting bombs in rental cars at "different places at rush hour." He also allegedly wrote an e-mail to himself with the subject line "NYC Street Cameras," that included links to real-time city traffic cameras in NYC.
Prosecutors say Aldawsari's other potential targets included dams, nuclear plants or the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush. He also allegedly had plans to plant explosives in dolls and place them in strollers. (The Star-Telegram in Texas has put together a timeline of Aldawsari's actions leading up to the arrest.) The 20-year-old suspect appeared in court this morning in Texas, and Judge Nancy Koenig ordered him to remain in custody until an April 11th detention hearing. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
