New York, May 10 : Yemen-based terror suspect Anwar Awlaki, who is said to be the mentor of the Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad, was inexplicably let off at New York? s John F Kennedy airport eight years ago after being apprehended for passport fraud. The Congress is now investigating the circumstances behind his release.

According to investigators, Sahzad was considerably influenced by Alwaki? s calls for a violent Jihad. It is also possible that he made contact with Awlaki, New York Times reports. (ANI)