Canadian charged with helping Najibullah Zazi in New York bomb plot
Federal officials announce an indictment against Canadian Ferid Imam, who is charged with helping Najibullah Zazi and others travel to Pakistan for terrorist training in a plot to bomb the New York City subway in 2009.
Najibullah Zazi (c.) is escorted off a New York Police Department helicopter by US Marshals after being extradited from Denver, Colo., in this Sept. 25, 2009, file photo. Federal officials have unsealed an indictment against Canadian Ferid Imam that alleges Imam helped Zazi and others get terrorist training from Al Qaeda in Pakistan.
New York City Police Department/AP/File
US authorities are seeking a Canadian national believed to have helped three men obtain explosives training in Afghanistan in order to carry out an alleged plot to bomb the New York City subway system in 2009.
Ferid Imam, also known as Yousef, was named in 10-count superceding indictment unsealed on Monday in federal court in Brooklyn.
According to court documents, he played a key role in helping Najibullah Zazi, Zarein Ahmedzay, and Adis Medunjanin to travel from Newark, N.J., to Pakistan’s Waziristan region for explosives and other training by Al Qaeda.
The training in late 2008 was designed to facilitate an alleged bombing campaign in New York.
US officials broke up the plot before it could be launched. Both Mr. Zazi and Mr. Ahmedzay were arrested and have pleaded guilty.
Ahmedzay reportedly told investigators of Iman’s role in helping to arrange their training.
“As today’s charges demonstrate, we will not rest in our pursuit of those responsible for plotting terrorist attacks,” US Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a statement.
“The three men already charged with conspiring to set off bombs in New York were also charged with receiving overseas training to accomplish that nefarious goal. Among other alleged acts of terrorism, Ferid Imam helped the get that training,” said Janice Fedarcyk, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
Imam is charged with providing material support to a group identified by the US government as a terrorist organization. He is also charged with aiding and abetting the receipt of military-style training of the three men by Al Qaeda. If convicted, he faces from 30 years to life in prison.
In addition to the charges unsealed in New York, Canadian officials announced that terror conspiracy charges had been filed in Canada against Imam.
Imam is believed to have left Canada in 2007 for Pakistan. His current location is unknown.