Al Qaida operative names senior leaders in foiled New York suicide attack
When Zarein Ahmedzay and Ajibullah Zazi pleaded guilty on Friday they revealed scarier story of how they were told by senior Al Qaeda leaders to go back to their alma mater to strike at the opportune moment.
"They told us we would be more useful if we returned to New York City ... to conduct operations," Ahmedzay said their plans were to do suicide bombing operations like the foiled attack on the New York city subway. The attacks were planned around Ramadan and were scheduled to take place at landmark locations but had to be called off due to the lack of explosives.
The appeal was the first instance when the guilty named senior leaders of the Al Qaida network. In this instance the leaders who were named were Saleh-al-Solami and Rashid Rauf both of whom were killed in Pakistan. Somali was the head of the international operations for Al Qaida.
Other than Ahmedzay there were two more people who had joined them on their trip to Pakistan – a Colorado truck driver by the name of Zazi and Adis Medunjanin.
Zazi has also admitted this year that he was involved in the making of bombs after which he traveled to New York to carry out blasts in retaliation to US actions in Afghanistan.
Ahmedzay also testified that their Al Qaida leaders urged them to target well known buildings to create maximum impact. But he said, "I'm thankful for myself that I didn't harm anyone, but I feel someone else will do the same thing."
Prosecutors have said the three had planned the attacks in the same manner in which the London transit system was bombed which killed 52 people including the suicide bombers.
As result of this interception it has become clear that US continues to face threat from Al Qaida and other terrorist outfits. Attorney General Eric Holder said, "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."
It is interesting to note that Ahmedzay and Medunjanin had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted bombing. It is also understood that a fourth suspect is under detention in Pakistan but no information is available on the person yet.
