Sep 21, 2009 5:30 pm US/Eastern
FBI: NYC Imam Double-Crossed Feds In Terror Probe
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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37-year-old Ahmed Afzali, imam at the Islamic Center in Flushing, Queens, has been accused of double-crossing the FBI by agreeing to get information of suspected terrorist Najibullah Zazi, but then warning him instead.
CBS
Thirty seven year-old Ahmed Afzali, imam at the Islamic Center in Flushing, Queens, has been accused of double-crossing the FBI by agreeing to get information of suspected terrorist Najibullah Zazi, but then warning him instead, CBS station WCBS-TV reported.
Zazi and his father were arrested in Denver over the weekend. Zazi made several trips to Pakistan and the FBI says he admitted he went to weapons training there and made contact with a known al-Qaida operative, possibly, the FBI says, in preparation for attacks on New York City.
In the federal complaint, Afzali is quoted as saying to Zazi, "listen, our phone call is being monitored."
During the raids in Queens and Colorado last week, U.S. intelligence sources say Zazi had documents and hand-written notes about bomb-making, plus information and video about possible targets, including Grand Central Station.
Afzali's lawyer, Ron Kuby, says he didn't tip off Zazi because Zazi already knew he was watched for being part of an alleged terror plot:
"He was as cooperative as he possibly could be, and now he finds himself charged with a crime because, in this case, it was the government screwed up," Afzali's attorney, Ron Kuby, said. "The government … moved too early, before they had any sort of a case against Zazi."
Making false statements to federal agents in an ongoing terrorism investigation carries a sentence of up to eight years behind bars.
Zazi was arraigned in Denver Monday, where a judge ordered him held pending a detention hearing Thursday. Afzali appeared in federal court in Brooklyn and was being held without bond.
azi, 24, has admitted receiving weapons training from al Qaeda. Authorities have said they don't know the timing or location of any planned attack.
Investigators said they found notes on bomb-making in Zazi's handwriting and that they discovered his fingerprints on materials - batteries and a scale - that could be used to make explosives.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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