Zarein Ahmedzay pleads guilty in connection with al-Qaeda New York subway plot
April 24th, 2010 - 3:18 am ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – A New York man pleaded guilty on Friday to terrorism violations for his role in the al-Qaeda plot to bomb the New York subway system in 2009, the Department of Justice said.
Zarein Ahmedzay, 25, a U.S. citizen, former cab driver, and resident of Queens, New York, admitted that he, along with Najibullah Zazi, and a third individual, agreed to travel to Afghanistan to join the Taliban and fight against United States and allied forces.
The three Americans said that they wanted to fight in Afghanistan, but the al-Qaeda leaders explained that they would be more useful to al-Qaeda and the jihad if they returned to New York and conducted attacks there.
After receiving training from al-Qaeda, the three Americans met in Queens and agreed to carry out suicide bombings during the month of Ramadan, August 22, 2009 to September 20, 2009.
Zazi and Ahmedzay decided that they would conduct suicide attacks on subway trains rather than targeting a larger structure such as a building. However, shortly after arriving in New York, they realized that law enforcement was investigating their activities.
Ahmedzay and Zazi discarded the explosives and other bomb-making materials, and Zazi traveled back to Denver, where he was based.
“The facts disclosed today add chilling details to what we know was a deadly plot hatched by al-Qaeda leaders overseas to kill scores of Americans in the New York City subway system in September 2009,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “This plot, as well as others we have encountered, makes clear we face a continued threat from al-Qaeda and its affiliates overseas. With three guilty pleas already and the investigation continuing, this prosecution underscores the importance of using every tool we have available to both disrupt plots against our nation and hold suspected terrorists accountable.”
Ahmedzay was first indicted on January 8 on charges of making false statements to the FBI about his travels to Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was charged again in February 8 in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, providing material support to al-Qaeda, receiving military-type training from al-Qaeda, and making false statements.
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