The city of New York still remains the preeminent target for terrorists plotting attacks on the US, according to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

At a press conference at police headquarters in Manhattan, Commisioner Kelly said: "New York is still unfortunately on top of the terrorist target list. Terrorist groups will continue to send operatives to the US, regardless of whether plots are successful. If they succeed, they’re happy. If they don’t succeed, they know at the very least they’ve cost us money, they’ve given us some angst, some concern throughout the community."

He said there had been eleven known plots against the city of New York since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Kelly’s remarks were elicited from reporters asking about Faisal Shahzad, the naturalised US citizen born in Pakistan, who was arrested in connection with a failed attempt to detonate a bomb in New York’s Time Square.

The Obama administration has said that Shahzad, who has admitted his role in the bombing attempt and is cooperating with authorities, received training from a Taliban group based in Pakistan.