Headley indictment ‘important day’ in fight against terror: Obama
December 8th, 2009 - 11:57 am ICT by IANS
By Arun Kumar
Washington, Dec 8 (IANS) President Barack Obama believes that the indictment of Pakistani-American terror suspect David Coleman Headley, charged with criminal conspiracy in the Mumbai terror attacks, is an “important day” in efforts to protect the American people.
“Obviously, I continue to say, and the president does, too, that we have taken and will continue to take every step necessary to protect the American people,” White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday. “Today was an important day in doing that.”
Gibbs’ comments came after prosecutors in Chicago charged Headley, 49, the son of a Pakistani diplomat and an American socialite mother with carrying out surveillance on targets in India in advance of the 26/11 terror attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.
At the State Department, spokesperson Ian Kelly said the visit of a Department of Justice and FBI team to New Delhi to share with Indian law enforcement counterparts information disclosed by Headley relating to his role in the Mumbai and Denmark terror attacks reflected Obama’s commitment to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to cooperate closely on the case.
“This visit reflects the president’s commitment to Indian Prime Minister Singh during his recent visit to cooperate closely on the case,” he told reporters Monday.
Taking note of the filing of fresh charges against Headley, Kelly said: “Well, obviously, our role is to be the liaison with the governments who are concerned in these judicial issues.”
“The US Department of Justice and the FBI sent a briefing team that today (Monday) shared with Indian law enforcement counterparts information disclosed by Headley relating to his alleged roles in the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and his alleged role in plotting an attack in Denmark.”
“We have also been cooperating or consulting closely with Pakistani authorities on this case as well, following the practices developed in previous high-profile counter-terrorism investigations,” Kelly said.
After the meetings in New Delhi, the team of the Department of Justice and the FBI would travel directly to Islamabad to brief “appropriate Pakistani security officials”, he said.
- FBI team to visit Pakistan to follow Headley leads - Dec 08, 2009
- 'Headley put his kids through military drills in Chicago park' - Nov 13, 2010
- Investigations reveal incriminating evidence of Headley's role in 26/11 attacks: Rao - Dec 08, 2009
- Headley quizzed for 7 days without restraint (Second Lead) - Jun 11, 2010
- Before Mumbai attacks, wife warned of Headley's terror ties in Pakistan - Oct 16, 2010
- Headley to answer charges in Mumbai attack Wednesday - Dec 09, 2009
- India, US working better to tackle terror: US envoy - Dec 08, 2009
- Charges filed against David Coleman Headley in the 26/11 attacks - Dec 08, 2009
- Chicagoan Charged with Conspiracy in 2008 Mumbai Attacks in Addition to Foreign Terror Plot in Denmark - Dec 07, 2009
- India readies to quiz Headley after US assurance - May 01, 2010
- US deployed Headley in Pakistan despite warning - Nov 08, 2010
- Headley worked with FBI for capture of Mumbai mastermind - Jun 01, 2011
- NIA charges against Headley, Pakistani terrorists soon - Dec 05, 2011
- US officials charge Headley with involvement in 26/11 (Lead) - Dec 08, 2009
- Headley denies role in Mumbai terror attack (Lead) - Dec 10, 2009
Tags: arun kumar, barack obama, counterparts, criminal conspiracy, david coleman, department of justice, fbi team, indian prime minister, indictment, judicial issues, manmohan, manmohan singh, pakistani diplomat, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, prosecutors, robert gibbs, terror attacks, us department of justice, white house spokesperson