A federal jury has found a Queens man guilty on all charges related to a 2009 plan for suicide attacks on the NYC subways, conspiring to join the Taliban and training with Al Qaeda. Adis Medunjanin now faces up to life in prison. more ›

A Massachusetts resident is accused of plotting to damage the Capitol building and Pentagon in Washington D.C. remote controlled planes filled with C-4 explosives. According to the Washington Post, "Rezwan Ferdaus, a U.S.-born citizen of South Asian background, traveled to Washington last May to conduct surveillance and intended to launch three small GPS-guided aircraft from East Potomac Park — two against the Pentagon and one against the Capitol, according to a detailed plan he gave to the FBI." 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 ›

A 67-year-old airport cargo worker was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to blow up a pipeline near JFK Airport. Russell Defreitas, who was convicted last year for the 2007 plot, had been portrayed by his lawyers as "a man with a small mind, a big mouth and an ugly imagination," but ultimately harmless. The federal judge, though, found the "the offenses that were contemplated here, that the jury found Mr. Defreitas guilty of, are extremely serious." more ›

As NYC is beefing up security on the subway's "ring of steel" in September, the Port Authority is looking to protect the PATH tunnels. According to the Post, contractors are "toiling in the cloak of darkness" for the "hush-hush project" to install flood-prevention gates and bomb-proof metal plates, and they're being pressured to get it done before the WTC memorial opens next year. more ›

Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, the former Staten Island resident who was charged with making false statements about trying to fly to Pakistan to join the Taliban, was at the Brooklyn federal courthouse for his hearing today and was held without bail. In the process, according to NY1, Shehadeh did not enter a plea, while saying he did understand the charges against him. The charges basically stem from his repeated attempts to join terrorist organizations overseas, and then telling the government he wanted to join the Taliban to get off the no-fly list. more ›

A federal jury has found the four men accused of plotting to blow up synagogues in Riverdale, as well as shoot down military planes in Newburgh, guilty on 30 of 32 counts. James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams, and Laguerre Payen, whose lawyers argued that a government informant entrapped them, face up to life in prison—sentencing is next March. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, "Homegrown terrorism is a serious threat, and today’s convictions affirm our commitment to do everything we can to protect against it. The defendants in this case agreed to plant bombs and use missiles they thought were very real weapons of terrorism." more ›

After hearing testimony for weeks (jury selection began in June), the jury deliberating whether four men were plotting to bomb synagogues in the Bronx last May was dismissed early yesterday because a juror received inadmissible evidence. Apparently in a packet of transcripts—prepared by the government—there was a conversation between a defendant and his father about entrapment. Federal Judge Colleen McMahon said it was "utterly, completely and totally inadmissible." more ›

A day after the U.S. Justice Department announced charges against five Al Qaeda members for the foiled subway terror plot and revealed the attempted suicide bombings were linked to a plan for similar attacks in England, Norwegian officials announced three men were being held for plotting attacks in the Scandinavian country. According to BBC News, "The men - a Uighur from China, an Iraqi and an Uzbek - are said to have ties to al-Qaeda and to be linked to bomb plots in the US and UK... The three, all Norwegian residents, had been under surveillance for a year." more ›

The plotters of the thwarted JFK terror plot from three years ago are currently on trial in Brooklyn Federal Court, and yesterday one of the cooperating witnesses revealed more details of the plan, as well as the plans nickname—"The Shining." It was named so because the inferno from blowing up fuel tanks and fuel lines at the airport would have lit up the entire borough of Queens, not because one of the plotters was a Stanley Kubrick, Stephen King, or Groundskeeper Willie aficionado. more ›

A federal judge denied bail for four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and to shoot down military planes at a base in Newburgh, NY in May 2009. Last week Judge Colleen McMahon delayed the case indefinitely because of issues with the prosecution's case and said she'd listen to bail applications. However, yesterday she decided against allowing bail "because, she ruled, there was no assurance they would return for trial if freed." However, she also said in her ruling, "The government’s case may not be as ironclad as it appeared in the hours and days immediately after the defendants were arrested." The men's defense lawyers claim they were entrapped by an overzealous government informant. more ›

The trial of four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and shoot down military planes in Newburgh has been delayed indefinitely. Not only did federal Judge Colleen McMahon dismiss the jury, she also said she'd consider dismissing the indictment, "No guarantees, gentlemen. No guarantees. But I will listen to bail applications, given everything that has gone on." Why? Because the prosecution didn't turn over evidence months ago. more ›

Today, jury selection begins in the case of the four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and shoot military planes in Newburgh, NY. The men who were arrested while trying to plant a bomb outside a Riverdale synagogue; the bomb's materials were fake, given to them by an informant. While prosecutors claim the men were "disappointed...that the best target (the World Trade Center) was hit already" and Police Commission Ray Kelly said, "They stated that they wanted to commit jihad," defense lawyers say the men were entrapped by the government informant (even suggesting they were lured by fried chicken). At any rate, Riverdale residents are still unnerved; one told WCBS 2, "I can't believe it happened here. It's Riverdale." 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 ›

In court papers filed today, prosecutors describe the alleged leader of the plot to bomb synagogues in the Bronx as a "hate-filled anti-Semite" who considers Osama bin Laden his "brother." The Post reports that James Cromitie told an informant he wanted to shoot President Bush, saying the president "is the anti-Christ and if Allah does not kill him then a brother will." Another of one the men involved in the plot already said they were disappointed the World Trade Center had already been hit. more ›

According to papers filed by the defense lawyers, James Cromitie, the alleged mastermind behind May's Bronx synagogue terrorist plot, had been offered up to $250,000 by a government informant. The NY Times reports that the papers detailed how the informant, identified as Shaheed Hussain, encouraged Cromitie to identify targets and even recruit others on the terrorist mission. The defense lawyers want the trial thrown out under entrapment rules, claiming Cromitie wouldn't have attempted the bombing without Hussain's influence. 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 ›

The father of Najibulla Zazi, the alleged terrorist bomber with ties to Al Qaeda, has been charged with obstruction of justice by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn today. The father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, 55, was first arrested in September along with his son, Najibullah Zazi, 24. The younger Zazi has been charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, and will be on trial in Brooklyn starting in February. Both father and son were initially indicted in Denver on less serious charges, but were moved to Brooklyn when the NYC terror plot (using beauty products) came to light. more ›

After being attacked by critics in the wake of the thankfully unsuccessful attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight last week, the White House addressed critics head on. Communications director Dan Pfeiffer posted a response—especially towards former Vice President Dick Cheney—on the White House website yesterday saying that President Obama has acknowledged the U.S. is "at war. The difference is this: President Obama doesn’t need to beat his chest to prove it, and - unlike the last Administration - we are not at war with a tactic ('terrorism'), we at war with something that is tangible: al Qaeda and its violent extremist allies. And we will prosecute that war as long as the American people are endangered." Further: 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, 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 ›

With recent unraveling of a suspected terrorist plot in NYC, Mayor Bloomberg and other officials took to the opportunity to demand more federal money to deter nuclear attacks. Bloomberg said, "These events are a disturbing reminder that we can't - and I can tell you we won't - be complacent when it comes to protecting our city against terrorism," adding, "Despite the incredible job the NYPD is doing, our city does remain a prime target for terrorists." more ›