guyhandz
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2015
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- -9
- Country
- Location
MUMBAI: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, said on Monday that Pakistani terrorists attempted twice to attack Mumbai before the 26/11 strikes, but didn't succeed.
Headley, an American national, was deposing as a witness before a Mumbai court via video conference from the US. He told the court that the LeT's two unsuccessful attempts were in September and October of 2008. The November 26, 2008 attacks killed 166 people.
Headley also said that he joined the LeT after being "influenced" by its head Hafiz Saeed and took his first "course" with the group in 2002 in Muzaffarabad.
Headley, who is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the terror attacks, also said he changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley in 2006 so that he could enter India to set up a business.
"I applied for change in name on February 5, 2006 in Philadelphia. I changed my name to David Headley to get a new passport under that name. I wanted a new passport so that I could enter India with an American identity," he said.
Headley also said that in his Indian visa application he had furnished "wrong" information "to protect his cover".
"After I got a new passport I disclosed it to my colleagues in LeT of which one of them was Sajid Mir, the person with whom I was dealing with. The objective for coming to India was to set up an office/business so that I can live in India. Before the first visit, Sajid Mir gave me instructions to make a general video of Mumbai," Headley told the court here.
He said he visited Mumbai seven times before the attacks on November 26, 2008. He even visited Delhi in March 2009, after the attacks.
Headley's deposition took place in front of a special judge GA Sanap in a city civil and sessions court in Mumbai, via video conference, from an undisclosed location in the US. The proceedings commenced at 7 am and will continue until 12.30 pm with a break in between.
"This is the first time perhaps in the world's legal history that a terrorist will tender live evidence in a foreign country. Headley will likely divulge the larger aspect of the criminal conspiracy behind the 26/11 terror attacks. This would strengthen the present trial pending against Indian nationals. The US government has supported the endeavour taking into consideration the global challenge of terrorism," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
Headley's evidence might help the prosecution's bid to nail alleged LeT operative Zabihuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, an alleged co-conspirator and handler of the 26/11 terrorists. He is currently the only person being tried in the case. Executed Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab identified Jundal as his handler. Jundal also attended the proceedings via video conference from Arthur Road jail where he is currently lodged. His plea to be physically present during the proceedings was rejected by the court.
Headley is scheduled to depose on Tuesday morning as well.
On December 10, judge Sanap accepted Headley's plea to turn approver and gave him a pardon in the case. Among conditions imposed to grant the pardon, the court had said that Headley would have to disclose the full and true facts within his knowledge, that led to the attacks . "He should also disclose his role and that of others'. He should disclose all the facts which he admitted before the court in the US. He should correctly answer the questions of the prosecution about the offences committed by him and others," judge Sanap had said.
David Coleman Headley deposes before Mumbai court, says two attempts failed before 26/11 attacks - Times of India
Headley, an American national, was deposing as a witness before a Mumbai court via video conference from the US. He told the court that the LeT's two unsuccessful attempts were in September and October of 2008. The November 26, 2008 attacks killed 166 people.
Headley also said that he joined the LeT after being "influenced" by its head Hafiz Saeed and took his first "course" with the group in 2002 in Muzaffarabad.
Headley, who is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the terror attacks, also said he changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley in 2006 so that he could enter India to set up a business.
"I applied for change in name on February 5, 2006 in Philadelphia. I changed my name to David Headley to get a new passport under that name. I wanted a new passport so that I could enter India with an American identity," he said.
Headley also said that in his Indian visa application he had furnished "wrong" information "to protect his cover".
"After I got a new passport I disclosed it to my colleagues in LeT of which one of them was Sajid Mir, the person with whom I was dealing with. The objective for coming to India was to set up an office/business so that I can live in India. Before the first visit, Sajid Mir gave me instructions to make a general video of Mumbai," Headley told the court here.
He said he visited Mumbai seven times before the attacks on November 26, 2008. He even visited Delhi in March 2009, after the attacks.
Headley's deposition took place in front of a special judge GA Sanap in a city civil and sessions court in Mumbai, via video conference, from an undisclosed location in the US. The proceedings commenced at 7 am and will continue until 12.30 pm with a break in between.
"This is the first time perhaps in the world's legal history that a terrorist will tender live evidence in a foreign country. Headley will likely divulge the larger aspect of the criminal conspiracy behind the 26/11 terror attacks. This would strengthen the present trial pending against Indian nationals. The US government has supported the endeavour taking into consideration the global challenge of terrorism," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
Headley's evidence might help the prosecution's bid to nail alleged LeT operative Zabihuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, an alleged co-conspirator and handler of the 26/11 terrorists. He is currently the only person being tried in the case. Executed Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab identified Jundal as his handler. Jundal also attended the proceedings via video conference from Arthur Road jail where he is currently lodged. His plea to be physically present during the proceedings was rejected by the court.
Headley is scheduled to depose on Tuesday morning as well.
On December 10, judge Sanap accepted Headley's plea to turn approver and gave him a pardon in the case. Among conditions imposed to grant the pardon, the court had said that Headley would have to disclose the full and true facts within his knowledge, that led to the attacks . "He should also disclose his role and that of others'. He should disclose all the facts which he admitted before the court in the US. He should correctly answer the questions of the prosecution about the offences committed by him and others," judge Sanap had said.
David Coleman Headley deposes before Mumbai court, says two attempts failed before 26/11 attacks - Times of India
