Feds tie Chicago terror suspect to India plot
TERROR CASE | Say he talked about targeting military college
Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that a man accused in a plot to kill a Danish cartoonist also discussed targeting a military college in India.
In papers filed in federal court in an effort to keep Tahawwur Rana behind bars pending trial, prosecutors contend that in September, Rana and David Headley discussed a possible attack on the National Defense College in India. "Rana, in fact, used the . . . English word 'target' in this discussion," they wrote.
Last week, Rana, 48, of Chicago was charged with providing material support to a terror plot with Headley that allegedly aimed to blow up the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark and murder an editor and a cartoonist behind the publication of images of the prophet Mohammed.
Headley, 49, also of Chicago, was charged with conspiracy to murder and maim in a foreign country and providing support to terrorists.
While the criminal complaints charging Rana and Headley last week made reference to possible additional overseas targets, Tuesday's filing for the first time specifies the military college and links Rana to a possible plot in India.
Also in the new filing, prosecutors say Rana allegedly coached an unnamed member of a terrorist organization on how to bring foreigners into the country illegally by using a "business loophole" in the system. Rana owns First World Immigration Services, a firm that provides assistnance obtaining visas and other documents. "Based on a review of intercepted communications, including e-mails, Rana does not shy from using that knowledge to assist others in immigration fraud," prosecutors wrote.
A former employee of Rana told the Sun-Times the allegations are not consistent with the fair-minded, peaceful man he once knew. Elias Solebo, who worked slaughtering animals in a plant owned by Rana, said he never heard him discuss the Danish cartoon.
Patrick Blegen, Rana's attorney, has denied his client's involvement in a terror plot and said his client denies charges of immigration fraud.