The alleged mastermind of a thwarted plan to blow up several NYC subway trains testified for the second day in the trial of his alleged accomplice yesterday. According to Najibullah Zazi, the attack was motivated by a desire for avenge the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl by U.S. soldiers in 2006. In a “martyrdom” video, Zazi said, ‘This is for her,’ ” referring to the girl. He also explained that al-Qaeda taught him a 'very simple' formula for suicide bombs using materials that could all be bought over the counter. more ›

Back in September 2009, the FBI and NYPD raided Queens homes because of a plot to bomb the NYC subway system. While suspects were arrested—and later convicted—tensions emerged between the two agencies because a police officer showed photographs of "persons of interest" to an imam who tipped off suspects, forcing the FBI to act early. Now, numerous of NYPD detectives are being called to testify in front of a grand jury about the leaks. more ›

Convicted terror plotter Najibullah Zazi, who wanted to suicide bomb the 1, 2, 3 and 6 trains in 2009, may be in prison, but his father is on trial for lying to the authorities and destroying evidence. And uncle testified that Zazi was indeed storing chemicals—bleach or drain cleaner, nail polish remover—along with a scale, masks and goggles in a Denver garage. Naqib Jaji, who owned the house, asked his nephew, "What the hell is this?" and Zazi allegedly said that "he was making medicine to have a baby." That's right—bleach and nail polish remover are total fertility aids. more ›

The father of the man who admitted to plotting to bomb the NYC subways is on trial for allegedly lying to federal authorities and destroying evidence—and his nephew testified that, yes, Mohammed Wali Zazi did tell relatives to destroy bomb-making supplies his son stored in Colorado. more ›

The Daily News reports that Najibullah Zazi, the former Queens resident and downtown coffee vendor who pleaded guilty to plotting to bomb NYC subways last fall, may be headed into federal witness protection, thanks to his cooperation: "The Afghan immigrant's singing could earn him a coveted 'S' visa, given only to aliens who provide critical information on terror organizations, officials revealed." And one source told the News about how terrorism has changed, "It is a lot easier for homegrown terrorists ... to meet high-ranking, hard-core operatives, and offer themselves as tools to inflict casualties. And the word from Al Qaeda is, 'Welcome, we need you to do your part.'" Homegrown terrorists are even in, allegedly, Norway. more ›

Today, the Justice Department announced that it charged five al Qaeda members with plotting to not just attack the NYC subways last fall but also attack another country. Per the FBI press release, the scheme the involved former Queens resident Najibullah Zazi "was also directly related to a scheme by al Qaeda plotters in Pakistan to use Western operatives to attack a target in the United Kingdom." more ›

Counterterrorism officials say that "an elusive and feared senior Qaeda operative" met with one of the suspects in last fall's thwarted subway terror plot. According to the AP, "Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have named Shukrijumah in a draft terrorism indictment, but yesterday the Justice Department was still discussing whether to cite his role. Some officials feared that the extra attention might hinder efforts to capture him." more ›

Would-be subway bomber Najibullah Zazi had two pounds of explosives in his car when he drove over the George Washington Bridge on September 10th of last year, but Port Authority police waved him through after a "cursory" inspection of the vehicle. Now the NYPD is trashing the Port Authority police over the potentially catastrophic incident, reports the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive scoop nicely timed with the debut of their Metro section today. more ›

Yesterday, Zarein Ahmedzay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and other charges in connection with a foiled September 2009 plan to bomb NYC subways. The 25-year-old cabdriver from Queens told the judge that he, Najibullah Zazi and Adis Medunjanin went to an Al Qaeda camp in Pakistan, ready to join the Taliban. But Al Qaeda instead told them that they would be, Ahmedzay said, "more useful if we returned to New York City ... to conduct operations." He also said, "I personally believed that conducting an operation in the United States would be the best way to end the wars." more ›

A friend of Najibullah Zazi suspected of plotting to bomb the NYC subways will plead guilty today, according to law enforcement sources. The AP reports, "Zarein Ahmedzay was expected to appear Friday afternoon in federal court in Brooklyn... They said Ahmedzay planned to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, providing material support to a terrorist organization and other counts." Zazi, Ahmedzay, and another friend from their Queens high school allegedly received Al Qaeda training in Pakistan and wanted to bomb the 1, 2, 3, and 6 trains last September, a plan foiled by NYPD and federal monitoring of Zazi. Zazi pleaded guilty in February. more ›

The Queens imam who tipped off subway terror plotter Najibullah Zazi about investigators monitoring him was sentenced to time served but must leave the country within 90 days. Imam Ahmad Afzali, who had been working with the government, doesn't know where he'll go. When he pleaded guilty last month, he said, "I've just signed my death sentence. I grew up here. I barely speak my own language. I'm between a rock and a wall. Helping the government and here is what I get." more ›

A fourth suspect in the foiled plot to blow up crowded subway trains has been arrested in Pakistan and is awaiting extradition to the U.S. to be tried in Brooklyn Federal Court with Adis Medunjanin and Zarein Ahmedzay of Flushing, Queens. Investigators believe the unidentified man helped plan the attack, which was to have been led by Najibullah Zazi, who confessed and pleaded guilty in February. And Zazi's confession has provided chilling new details about the martyrdom plot, which was tentatively planned for September 14th of last year. more ›

The latest plea to save hundreds of subway station agents from the MTA's budget cuts is now coming from House of Representatives. Three Democrats sent a letter to MTA chairman Jay Walder, "We strongly urge you to re-evaluate the current plans" and not, potentially, "compromise" subway security. more ›

Two weeks after Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty to plotting to bomb NYC subways, the Queens imam who let him know the police were investigating him has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. An upset Imam Ahmad Afzali told a judge, "When I was asked whether I had told Zazi about law enforcement being interested in him, I lied and said I did not. My intention was not to protect Zazi, but to protect myself. In doing so, I failed to live up to my obligation to this country, my community, my family and my religion. I am truly sorry." more ›

As was expected, admitted terrorist plotter Najibullah Zazi implicated his high school pals in his planned attack on the New York subway system. Former classmates Adis Medunjanin and Zarein Ahmedzay were arraigned before a Brooklyn Federal Judge today on new charges [PDF] of plotting three coordinated bombings on rush hour subways in Manhattan. more ›

Now that Najibullah Zazi has admitted he planned to attack NY's subway system in federal court, his high school pals are likely to face additional charges when they take the stand tomorrow. When questioned today whether Zazi planned to carry out his attack with the help of two other suicide bombers, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly responded, "The information will be coming out, but I think that's fair to say, yes." Both Adis Medunjanin, originally from Bosnia and Zarein Ahmedzay, originally from Afghanistan, are already charged in connection with their friend's sojourn in a Pakistani Al Qaeda training camp, but now that Zazi is talking, it's unclear exactly what other accusations will be piled on. more ›

Yesterday accused terrorist Najibulllah Zazi pleaded guilty, describing his motives and plot in detail. His confession confirmed much of what investigators suspected, but the candor with which Zazi describes his negative feelings towards the U.S.—his "unapologetic, matter-of-fact manner"—was surprising. "I would sacrifice myself to bring attention to what the United States military was doing to civilian in Afghanistan by sacrificing my soul for the sake of saving other souls," Zazi explained to the judge. more ›

UPDATE BELOW: Former airport shuttle driver Najibullah Zazi—who's accused of plotting a 9/11-type attack on the city using homemade bombs—is set to plead guilty today in Brooklyn Federal Court, law enforcement officials say. According to the AP, there may be a plea deal, and better yet he's cooperating with investigators. Three anonymous sources say the 24-year-old volunteered information during a recent interview with his lawyer and federal prosecutors. more ›

The FBI has gone after school pals of alleged terrorist bomber Najibullah Zazi, and today sources revealed they have his uncle too. They arrested Naqib Jaji secretly on a single felony charge (the exact nature of the crime remains undisclosed) and arraigned him in Brooklyn two weeks ago, reported the NY Post. Jaji—Zazi's uncle by marriage—gave the accused Qaeda plotter a warm bed and hot meals when he first moved from Queens to Denver and later said it was "impossible" his nephew was a terrorist. But Jaji maligned his house guest too: “He’s very greedy,” he told the Denver Post back in September when the case was just getting underway. “He lived with me for six months and never gave me a penny.” more ›

After crashing his car on the Whitestone Expressway in an apparent attempt to shake FBI agents on his tail, a Queens man connected to Najibullah Zazi's alleged subway bombing plot was arrested at a Queens hospital, where he was being treated for minor injuries. Adis Medunjanin, 25, saw federal agents "swarming" his apartment as he arrived around 3:45 p.m. yesterday, and sped off. After crashing in Whitestone, he attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by agents. more ›

During a pretrial in Brooklyn Federal Court, prosecutors said they would probably bring more charges against Najibullah Zazi. Zazi, a former NYC coffee cart vendor and recent Denver Airport shuttle driver, has already pleaded not guilty to a single terrorism count of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (to bomb NYC); prosecutors say he went to Pakistan and received training from Al Qaeda operatives there. His next court date is in February and Zazi's lawyer said, "He's in fairly good spirits considering his situation." more ›

With the federal authorities continuing their investigation of an alleged terror plot with roots in Denver and Queens, some New York City Muslims have accused the feds and NYPD of racial profiling. Queens Islamic activist Monami Maulik said over the weekend, "An entire community and people and religion should not be profiled and characterized as terrorists because of certain investigations." more ›

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly spoke about the man the federal authorities believe was planning a terrorist attack—and Newsday reports that Kelly confirmed that the plot was apparently focused on the Big Apple, "We believe the target was most likely here in New York City." more ›

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder discussed the alleged terror plot involving suspect Najibullah Zazi, the former Queens/current Denver resident, and others. Holder said it was "one of the most serious terrorist threats to our country since Sept. 11, 2001... This wasn't merely an 'aspirational' plot with no chance of success. This plot was very serious and, had it not been disrupted, it could have resulted in the loss of American lives." more ›

With terror suspect Najibullah Zazi in custody, accused to plotting to bomb NYC mass transit, experts are now weighing on how Zazi's purchases from a beauty supply store were very dangerous. They say that Zazi "had the means to kill scores of people — not hundreds or thousands," with retired FBI explosives expert Denny Kline saying, "These explosives are meant to be concealed easily and deployed easily and kill and maim and cause havoc in small areas." more ›

The investigation in an alleged terrorist plot by a former lower Manhattan coffee vendor may bring some more arrests. According to the Post, "A 'handful' of men in New York are possible associates of the chief suspect in an alleged plot to bomb commuter trains -- and now are under surveillance....The men being watched are no longer considered dangerous because the plot was disrupted, an official said." more ›

Najibullah Zazi pleaded not guilty to a single terrorism conspiracy charge in a Brooklyn federal courthouse yesterday. The 24-year-old former Queens/current Denver resident is accused of plotting to bomb NYC, after an investigation revealed he bought large quantities of beauty supplies that can be used in bombs and backpacks (meant to carry bombs) were seized in a Queens apartment. more ›

Najibullah Zazi, the former Queens (current Denver) resident accused of plotting to bomb New York, will be in Brooklyn's Eastern District Court today. The 24-year-old will face arraignment on the charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. It's believed he and other associates were plotting to bomb NYC mass transit, possibly on September 11. more ›

Who cares if the NYPD might have screwed up the federal authorities' investigations of suspected terror suspect Najibullah Zazi? According to Daily News sources, President Obama called Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to express his "appreciation and admiration" for the NYPD's work in stopping Zazi and for the NYPD's security during the U.N. General Assembly. more ›

Najibullah Zazi, the former Queens (current Denver) resident accused of plotting to bomb New York, was flown from Denver to face charges at Eastern District Court in Brooklyn. Yesterday, assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Neff said there was a "chilling, disturbing sequence of events that suggest the defendant was intent on making a bomb and being in New York on 9/11 for the purposes of using such an item...The defendant was in the throes of making a bomb and attempting to perfect his formulation." The U.S. Marshals' plane landed in Teterboro, NJ, where the NYPD picked Zazi and flew him by helicopter to Brooklyn, where he was placed in Sunset Park's Metropolitan Detention Center. more ›