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| Home Front: WoT |
| Friend testifies against Georgia Tech 'terrorist' |
| 2009-06-03 |
| A 'supporter' of terrorism on Tuesday testified about his connection to Syed Haris Ahmed, a former Georgia Tech student on trial for similar charges. According to the FBI, Ahmed made a video of the Pentagon and discussed attacks on the United States. Zubair Ahmed, not related to the defendant, entered a guilty plea last January to the charge of providing material support to terrorism. The charge carries a 15-year prison sentence. Zubair, a Chicago resident, said he travelled to Egypt during the summer of 2004 with the intent of eventually entering Iraq or Afghanistan to fight against the United States. Before they could make it out of Egypt, his father found out where he was and brought him home. Zubair said he first met Haris over the Internet. The two often communicated online using code words or in Urdu. FBI Special Agent James Allen testified that coded e-mails spelled out Ahmed's intentions to enter a terrorist training camp during a trip to Pakistan in July 2005. Defence attorney Jack Martin said in Pakistan, Haris's family talked him out of attending a camp. He said there was no established agreement with 'co-conspirators' and that Ahmed's actions were mere "childish fantasies". Haris, 24, and alleged co-conspirator Ehsanul Islam Sadequee are charged with discussing attacks in the United States on targets that include oil refineries and a military base. Prosecutors say they also took videos of landmarks in the Washington DC area. Ahmed has waived his right to a jury trial. |
| Posted by:Fred |