President Obama talks about Times Square attempted bombing, suspect’s arrest

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President Obama on Monday addressed Saturday’s attempted bombing at New York’s Times Square and the arrest of a suspect.

The president, prior to a speech on the economy at the Business Council in Washington, said the incident was “another sobering reminder of the times in which we live.’’ He said it was both the vigilance of private citizens and the effective cooperation of law-enforcement authorities that interrupted the attempted attack and led to the swift arrest. Faisal Shahzad was taken into custody at JFK Airport shortly after midnight EDT Tuesday. “The suspect is now in custody and is being questioned,’’ he said. The FBI and their partners in the investigation have “all the tools’’ they need to determine if the suspect acted in concert or alone, he said.

“Justice will be done, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people.’ Terrorists, he said, ‘will stop at nothing’ to disrupt Americans’ way of life.

But once again, he said, an attempted attack had failed because citizens were “vigilant’’ and authorities acted. “The suspect has been apprehended because of close’’ work at every level of law enforcement, he said.

“New Yorkers have reminded us once again of how to live with our heads held high,’’ Obama said. “As Americans and as a nation, we will not be terrorized. We will not cower in fear. ... We will work together.’’

-- Mark Silva