A man described by New York's mayor as an "al-Qaida sympathizer" remains in police custody in New York, after an arraignment on terrorism-related charges.

Jose Pimentel is accused of plotting to bomb government buildings in New York and U.S. troops returning home. A judge yesterday ordered him held without bond.

Police say they had to move quickly to keep Pimentel from carrying out his alleged plans. New York's top police official,

Raymond Kelly, says Pimentel had already started putting a bomb together.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says it appears that Pimentel is a "lone wolf," and not part of a broader conspiracy from overseas.

Authorities say they had him under surveillance for at least a year, with the help of an informant. They say he had posted on his website and on blogs his support of al-Qaida and his belief in jihad.

But his lawyer says Pimentel's behavior wasn't that of a conspirator trying to conceal a violent scheme. He says Pimentel was public about his views, and wasn't trying to hide anything.

 

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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