Faisal Shahzad, the man who tried to set off a car bomb in New York City's Times Square was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.
Shahzad faced the mandatory life sentence at his hearing in a Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors used a dramatic videotape in their case against him.
Police arrested the Pakistani-American two days after the improvised car bomb exploded on May 1. He pleaded guilty to 10 terrorism and weapons counts.
The case is a reminder of how real the terrorist threat is as New York City once again increases security at hotels, on Amtrak trains, and in the subway system.
New York City police have tightened security in the Big Apple in conjunction with recent terror alerts that have been issued for Americans traveling to Europe.
"We've done some tactical shifts and changes that we think are appropriate at this time," New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The alert was issued this past weekend for U.S. travelers bound for Europe.
"I wouldn't say that we have specific information about a particular place, a particular time," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said. "And yet we have sufficient information that justifies the issuing of the alert."
The alert came with a mixed message from the U.S. State Department.
"We are saying to American citizens, continue with your travel plans, if they include Europe," State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said.
"Be cautious and be aware that we are following multiple streams of threat information," Crowley added.
Many travelers heard the warning -- but were still packing their bags.
"We know there have been terrorist attacks in the past, so this is nothing to take lightly," American traveler Tali Hiller said.
In the meantime, German officials are being tight-lipped about a U.S. missile strike in Pakistan that killed five militants. The Associated Press said U.S. officials believed a terrorist cell of Germans and Britons could be at the heart of the current terror alert against European cities.
Cell members may have been hiding in the region targeted by the U.S. military.