It's every day -- jihad in America. Notice they identify the jihadi as a "Chicago" (that's just geography) "businessman" (that's just the profession), but never say what motivated this soldier of allah. And so it goes. Nuts.
CHICAGO—A federal jury found a Pakistani-born Chicago businessman guilty of two terror-related counts, including an aborted plot to attack a Danish newspaper, but found him innocent of helping to plan the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Chicago Man Found Guilty in Danish Plot Wall Street Journal (hat tip CG)
In a verdict reached late Thursday, the jury found Tahawwur Rana guilty of providing material support to the plot to attack the Copenhagen newspaper that had printed cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. The plot was never carried out. Mr. Rana, 50 years old, also was found guilty of supporting the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Charles Swift, an attorney for Mr. Rana, said his client was "in shock" after hearing the verdict.
The government's case against Mr. Rana relied on coded emails, secretly taped conversations and the testimony of his longtime friend, David Headley. Mr. Headley pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism-related counts in connection with the Mumbai assault, in which more than 160 people were killed. He also admitted to scouting sites in preparation for the Denmark newspaper attack that never took place.
Mr. Headley spent five days on the witness stand testifying that Mr. Rana supported him in his efforts, partly by letting Mr. Headley use his immigration business as a front while doing reconnaissance.
In exchange for Mr. Headley's cooperation, prosecutors have promised not to seek the death penalty.
Attorneys for Mr. Rana, who pleaded not guilty to all counts, argued that he simply didn't know what his old friend was up to.
The trial has drawn international attention because Mr. Headley testified that the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, of which he was a member, worked with members of Pakistan's main intelligence service. That came amid accusations that elements of Pakistan's military may have helped shelter al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. forces in May in Pakistan.
