Rana, Two Others Charged for Denmark Plot, 26/11 Attacks
A federal grand jury has filed charges against Pakistani-born Canadian national and suspected Lashkar operative Tahawwur Hussain Rana for laying the groundwork for the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, said reports.
Pakistani-born American national David Coleman Headley had already been charged on Dec 7 in connection with the Mumbai attacks.
But the 12-count superseding indictment unsealed in Chicago on Thursday also added Rana as an alleged conspirator in planning the bloody rampage, reported IANS.
Report said that Rana was charged on three counts, providing material support in preparation and execution of 26/11 attacks, providing material support to a terrorism plot in Denmark, and providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In addition to Rana, one Pakistani terrorist and a retired Pakistani army personnel were charged in two conspiracy counts pertaining to the Denmark terrorism plot, said report.
Ilyan Kashmiri, ‘an allegedly influential terrorist organization leader in Pakistan’, is alleged to be in regular contact with leaders of al-Qaeda; and Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed (Abdur Rehman), a retired major in the Pakistani military, was charged with Denmark plot, said report.
Both Rana and Abdur Rehman were charged separately in previous court filings, but Thursday’s indictment charges Kashmiri for the first time, although he was identified by name in the charges filed previously against Rana, Abdur Rehman and Headley.
Report said that no date has been set for Rana’s arraignment. His attorney, Patrick Blegen, has said that his client is innocent.
Rana, 49, has remained in federal custody in Chicago since he was arrested on Oct 18 in connection with the planned attack in Denmark.
Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman, also known as “Major Abdur Rehman” and “Pasha,” were each charged with one count of conspiracy to murder and maim persons in Denmark, and one count of providing material support to the Danish terrorism plot. Neither man is in US custody.
