Washington:
David Coleman Headley was one of the central plotters of 26/11. That's what the US Justice Department's latest chargesheet against him says. He faces six counts of conspiracy and six counts for aiding and abetting the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said it clearly that David Headley worked as an undercover agent for Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
Headley charged:
- Conspiracy to bomb public places in India,
- Murder and maim persons in India and Denmark
- Provide material support to LeT, foreign terror plots
- He attended LeT training camps in Pakistan
- Headley extensively surveyed targets in India
- Headley made five trips to India, between Sep 2006 and July 2008
- Took pictures of targets, returned to Pakistan to discuss plot
- March 2008: Headley, co-conspirators discussed potential landing sites for 26/11 attackers
- FBI charged retired Pak Major for allegedly plotting attack on Danish newspaper
Prosecutors in America have charged Pakistani-origin American national David Headley with conspiracy to bomb public places in India. His objective was to murder and maim persons in India and Denmark.
Headley is charged for providing material support to Lashkar and other foreign terror plots. In the chargesheet the FBI has said Headley attended LeT training camps in Pakistan.
He conducted extensive surveillance of targets in India for more than two years before the November 2008 attacks.
Between September 2006 and July 2008, Headley made five trips to India when he scouted for sites for the attack, took photographs, then returned to Pakistan to discuss what he had learned.
In March 2008, Headley and his co-conspirators discussed potential landing sites for a
team of attackers who would arrive by sea in Mumbai.
The FBI also charged retired Pakistani Major Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed for allegedly plotting attack on Danish newspaper.
Arraignment for David Coleman Headley is scheduled for Wednesday December 9, 2009.
Pakistan meanwhile has reacted to FBI's charges on Headley, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said David Headley was born in Pakistan but was raised and studied in the United States.
"He should be tried according to the American law. If there was any evidence suggesting his links in Pakistan then it should be shared with us," said Rehman Malik.
Will Rana be next?Now that David Headley has been charged for 26/11, will his close associate Tawahuur Rana also be charged? Both were being investigated for their links to 26/11.
So far Rana has been charged with providing material support to terrorism and conspiring to commit acts of terror.
Rana's bail hearing has been set for the December 15. By then, the FBI could charge him as well for 26/11.
Also read:'Headley is cooperating in investigation'