Times Square bombing suspect passed security checks to become citizen in April 2009

Bombing suspect passed checks to become citizen

WASHINGTON — Law enforcement officials say the man accused of driving a bomb-laden SUV into Times Square became a U.S. citizen in April 2009 and passed all the criminal and national security background checks required for citizenship.

The officials familiar with the inquiry say investigators plan to go through his citizenship application line by line to see if he lied about anything. He became a citizen in Hartford, Conn.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

The suspect, Faisal Shahzad, was arrested aboard an Emirates flight to Dubai at John F. Kennedy International airport.

Shahzad is expected to appear in court later Tuesday.