New York subway a terror target, trial told

A US man accused of becoming an al-Qaida agent discussed bombing New York cinemas, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square and the Stock Exchange before settling on the city’s subways, a court heard.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

Adis Madunjanin went on trial yesterday in connection with the alleged 2009 plot.

Defence lawyer Robert Gottlieb accused the government of using “inflammatory rhetoric” about al-Qaida and terrorism to prevent jurors “from seeing the truth about this case”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meanwhile, the UK Crown Prosecution Service disclosed that it has struck a rare deal with a convicted terrorist to offer evidence in Medunjanin’s trial. Saajid Badat was jailed in the UK in 2005 for his role in a 2001 plot to down an American Airlines flight with explosives hidden in shoes. He his sentence has been cut by two years for co-operating.

Madunjanin looked at the high-profile targets with two former high school classmates, assistant US attorney James Looman said.

The men “were prepared to kill themselves and everyone else around them, Mr Looman said.

Medunjanin, 27, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, providing material support to a terrorist organisation and other charges.

Childhood friends Najibullah Zazi and Zarein Ahmedzay have admitted guilt.

Related topics:New York