A smoking Nissan Pathfinder packed with explosive items set New York law enforcement officials on the trail of the alleged Times Square bomber on Saturday, and by Tuesday a self-described lone plotter by the name of Faisal Shahzad had emerged as the sole suspect. The New York Times broke it all down on Tuesday. –KA

The New York Times:

A video surveillance camera recorded what was believed to be the dark green Nissan S.U.V. driving west on 45th Street at 6:28 pm. Moments later, two street vendors on the sidewalk saw smoke coming out of vents near the back seat of the S.U.V., which was now parked awkwardly at the curb with its engine running and hazard lights on. They heard the sound of firecrackers going off inside the vehicle, and called out to a mounted police officer, who smelled gunpowder when he approached it and called for assistance. The police began evacuating Times Square, starting with businesses along Seventh Avenue, including a Foot Locker store and a McDonald’s.

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