Thaindian News

Chicago, May 26 (IANS) David Coleman Headley had visited a nuclear plant ahead of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack, reveal court documents that also disclose that the Pakistani American had sought an assignment in Kashmir after training in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) camps.

Headley, the self-confessed plotter of the 26/11 terror strike who is appearing as a key witness in the trial of his one-time friend Tahawwur Rana, again testified Wednesday that he was trained in espionage by the Pakistani spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

He was not given his favourite Kashmir assignment as the Lashkar leaders wanted to use him for something else, according to court documents released Wednesday.

On the third day of his testimony, Headley also admitted that while he was training with LeT, he was still officially listed as an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

According to the unsealed court documents, Headley aka Daood Gilani, visited a nuclear power plant in India in April 2008 at the direction of his ISI handler in Pakistan, Major Iqbal, who also gave him Indian currency notes for his operation in India.

The documents, running into 57 pages, detail how Headley returned to Mumbai in April 2008 and, as instructed, conducted surveillance of potential landing sites, and took boat rides around the Mumbai harbour, using the GPS and making videos.

“Headley also performed surveillance of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) train station. Additionally, based on instructions from Major Iqbal, Headley visited a nuclear power plant in India to conduct surveillance.

“After completing these surveillance activities, Headley returned to Pakistan and met with Zaki, Sajid, Abu Qahafa, and another Lashkar member,” it said.

The nuclear plant was not identified.

Abu Qahafa downloaded the contents of a device and used Google Earth to view images of the locations, it said adding that Headley recommended a landing point for the attackers near a small fisherman’s bay on the coast of Mumbai.

“As before, Headley also reported to Major Iqbal about what he had done, also providing to him copies of videos that he had made. Further, Headley related to Major Iqbal the discussions that he had with Lashkar regarding the planning and preparation for the attacks,” the documents said.

In the summer of 2008, Headley travelled to Chicago and stayed with Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian.

Headley told Rana about about the surveillance in Mumbai, his boat trips, as well as the meetings with Sajid, one of his LeT handlers, and others regarding the attackers’ planned ingress by sea and the recommended landing points.

He also told Rana about Major Iqbal’s request that Headley perform surveillance in Delhi and as cover open an office of First World Immigration service operated by Rana.

After visiting Chicago, Headley returned to Pakistan and met several times with Sajid and Abu Qahafa. Sajid instructed Headley to return to Mumbai again and returned the GPS device to Headley with a long list of targets.

Sajid told Headley that he could not get enough video footage of the Taj Mahal hotel. It was during this trip that Zaki again met with Headley to give him encouragement regarding the planned attack.

“Zaki told Headley that their work in Mumbai would heal the breasts of believers and give Muslims in India something to be happy about,” the documents said.

The documents say Headley began attending LeT training camps in Pakistan in February 2002 and by December 2003 had attended five separate courses.

His training courses included Lashkar’s philosophy, use of weapons and grenades, combat tactics, survival skills and counter surveillance methods.