He wants to close a legal loophole that keeps the U. S. government from blocking sales of firearms to people on the terrorist watch list, New York's mayor has said.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Michael Bloomberg, speaking before a Senate committee on terrorism, urged lawmakers to remedy the so-called terror gap in the background check system for those attempting to buy guns.

"Should FBI agents have the authority to block sales of guns and explosives to those on the terror watch lists -- and deemed too dangerous to fly? Bloomberg asked, speaking after the attempted Times Square terror bombing Saturday.

"I believe strongly that they should."

Suspects on terrorism watch lists bought firearms and explosives from licensed U. S. dealers 1,119 times in the last six years, Bloomberg said, citing government data.

Bloomberg said, "That is a serious and dangerous breach of national security. It is imperative that Congress close this terror gap in our gun laws and close it quickly," he told the committee. (With Inputs from Agencies)