Admitted terrorist ends testimony, details Lockheed Martin plot
By Tony ArnoldAdmitted terrorist ends testimony, details Lockheed Martin plot
By Tony ArnoldFederal prosecutors say think they can wrap up their case this week against a Chicago man accused of helping plan terrorist attacks. They finished questioning their key witness, an admitted terrorist, on Tuesday.
Prosecutors say they are far ahead of schedule in their case against Tahawwur Rana, a Chicagoan accused of helping a terrorist group plan the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India, and an attack that never came through against a Danish newspaper.
For the last week, David Headley was on the stand to implicate Rana as part of Headley’s plea deal with prosecutors. Headley gave meticulous details about his involvement, including information on terrorist groups in Pakistan.
Rana’s defense attorneys say Headley knew he needed a touchdown to save his own skin, so he gave up his friend, Rana. Defense attorneys tried to explain why Rana and Headley would need coded email addresses. They suggested it was to bash a commenter on an online forum who would write bad things about Islam. But Headley denied that was the reason.
Headley also told the jury he interacted with an al-Qaida official who was frustrated by attacks from drones. So Headley suggested they plan an attack on individuals within Lockheed Martin, the weapons manufacturer. Headley testified before a Chicago jury that he Googled the CEO to get more information for an attack, but it never happened.