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Man Admits Possible Al Qaeda Link
By DAVID JOHNSTON and AL BAKER
Published: September 18, 2009
The Denver shuttle bus driver at the center of a federal terrorism investigation has begun to cooperate with the authorities, admitting that he had perhaps unwittingly crossed paths in Pakistan with extremists allied with Al Qaeda, according to government officials briefed on the case.
The officials did not indicate whether the admissions of the man, Najibullah Zazi, made during three days of intense questioning by F.B.I. agents in Denver, clarified whether he had directly engaged in terrorist activity. And it is not known whether his account could mean he will be charged with any wrongdoing.
But Mr. Zazis discussions with the authorities did seem to shed light on the suspicions that led federal and New York counterterrorism officials to begin intensive inquiries and to raid apartments in a suburb of Denver and in Queens, New York, believing he was the central figure in some kind of nascent, if still murky, terrorist activity.
Mr. Zazis statements to government officials suggest a somewhat different narrative than the one he presented in interviews with reporters this week when he denied being affiliated with Al Qaeda and said he had no idea why the government would suspect him of wrongdoing. Indeed, there are now some indications that Mr. Zazi underwent training in explosives and bomb-making while overseas.
Government officials said that the interviews with Mr. Zazi were providing federal agents with a volume of new information and the possibility that Mr. Zazis statements might lead to an arrest in a case that has so far been highlighted by aggressive searches unaccompanied by the filing of any charges.
The officials said prosecutors might reach some kind of an agreement with Mr. Zazi in exchange for his cooperation, but said such a step would probably not occur until after investigators have time to examine his statements, sift through evidence seized in recent days and determine whether other people may also be involved.
The investigation focusing on Mr. Zazi came to light on Monday after a weekend of hurried activity by federal and local authorities focused on Mr. Zazis Sept. 10 trip to New York. The authorities raided four residences connected to him in Queens and executed search warrants at his home in Aurora, Colo., and the home of his relatives there. Mr. Zazis lawyers have repeatedly asked why no arrests have been made, in asserting that their client is not involved in terrorism.
Media reports surfaced on Friday that Mr. Zazis lawyers were negotiating a plea deal for him to admit having had military training, presumably meaning that he had attended terrorist training camps. But Wendy S. Aiello, a spokeswoman for Mr. Zazis lawyer, Arthur Folsom, called them unfounded. Later, however, she declined to rule out the possibility that a plea arrangement was being negotiated in exchange for leniency toward Mr. Zazi.
Ms. Aiello said Mr. Zazi and his lawyer, Mr. Folsom, left the F.B.I. offices in Denver on Friday night and were expected to return for a fourth day of questioning on Saturday. She said there were no plea negotiations.
By midday, federal agents were asking to meet also with his father, Mohammed Zazi, 53. Ms. Aiello said the elder Mr. Zazi voluntarily went in for F.B.I. questioning and left later.
Najibullah and his family continue to cooperate fully with the F.B.I., Ms. Aiello said.
So far, neither New York nor federal officials have publicly explained their interest in Mr. Zazi. Among the unanswered questions is precisely what information persuaded the authorities that Mr. Zazi might represent a threat and led them to open an inquiry in Colorado and New York.
The officials said there were several factors, including his trips to Pakistan, which he and his lawyers have said in interviews earlier this week were made only to visit his wife and family members in Peshawar.
He first came to the attention of American intelligence months ago when he was in contact with Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan who are believed to play a significant role in trying to encourage attacks against American and other Western targets, the officials indicated.
An American adviser to United States intelligence agencies who has been briefed on some details of the inquiry said that investigators were focusing in part on Mr. Zazis activities in Peshawar, where he met and married his wife. Peshawar is the capital of Pakistans North-West Frontier Province and a gateway to the tribal areas where the Taliban and Al Qaeda have made a base.
He was there getting training in explosives and bomb-making, the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation, said he had been told.
The authorities, throughout, have signaled their interest in other people besides Mr. Zazi. Several men were questioned, at length, as the raids of homes in Queens occurred over several hours Sunday night and early Monday. It was unclear, however, if the authorities who have remained outside those homes for days had taken more men away for additional questioning on Thursday and Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/nyregion/19terror.html?hp
By DAVID JOHNSTON and AL BAKER
Published: September 18, 2009
The Denver shuttle bus driver at the center of a federal terrorism investigation has begun to cooperate with the authorities, admitting that he had perhaps unwittingly crossed paths in Pakistan with extremists allied with Al Qaeda, according to government officials briefed on the case.
The officials did not indicate whether the admissions of the man, Najibullah Zazi, made during three days of intense questioning by F.B.I. agents in Denver, clarified whether he had directly engaged in terrorist activity. And it is not known whether his account could mean he will be charged with any wrongdoing.
But Mr. Zazis discussions with the authorities did seem to shed light on the suspicions that led federal and New York counterterrorism officials to begin intensive inquiries and to raid apartments in a suburb of Denver and in Queens, New York, believing he was the central figure in some kind of nascent, if still murky, terrorist activity.
Mr. Zazis statements to government officials suggest a somewhat different narrative than the one he presented in interviews with reporters this week when he denied being affiliated with Al Qaeda and said he had no idea why the government would suspect him of wrongdoing. Indeed, there are now some indications that Mr. Zazi underwent training in explosives and bomb-making while overseas.
Government officials said that the interviews with Mr. Zazi were providing federal agents with a volume of new information and the possibility that Mr. Zazis statements might lead to an arrest in a case that has so far been highlighted by aggressive searches unaccompanied by the filing of any charges.
The officials said prosecutors might reach some kind of an agreement with Mr. Zazi in exchange for his cooperation, but said such a step would probably not occur until after investigators have time to examine his statements, sift through evidence seized in recent days and determine whether other people may also be involved.
The investigation focusing on Mr. Zazi came to light on Monday after a weekend of hurried activity by federal and local authorities focused on Mr. Zazis Sept. 10 trip to New York. The authorities raided four residences connected to him in Queens and executed search warrants at his home in Aurora, Colo., and the home of his relatives there. Mr. Zazis lawyers have repeatedly asked why no arrests have been made, in asserting that their client is not involved in terrorism.
Media reports surfaced on Friday that Mr. Zazis lawyers were negotiating a plea deal for him to admit having had military training, presumably meaning that he had attended terrorist training camps. But Wendy S. Aiello, a spokeswoman for Mr. Zazis lawyer, Arthur Folsom, called them unfounded. Later, however, she declined to rule out the possibility that a plea arrangement was being negotiated in exchange for leniency toward Mr. Zazi.
Ms. Aiello said Mr. Zazi and his lawyer, Mr. Folsom, left the F.B.I. offices in Denver on Friday night and were expected to return for a fourth day of questioning on Saturday. She said there were no plea negotiations.
By midday, federal agents were asking to meet also with his father, Mohammed Zazi, 53. Ms. Aiello said the elder Mr. Zazi voluntarily went in for F.B.I. questioning and left later.
Najibullah and his family continue to cooperate fully with the F.B.I., Ms. Aiello said.
So far, neither New York nor federal officials have publicly explained their interest in Mr. Zazi. Among the unanswered questions is precisely what information persuaded the authorities that Mr. Zazi might represent a threat and led them to open an inquiry in Colorado and New York.
The officials said there were several factors, including his trips to Pakistan, which he and his lawyers have said in interviews earlier this week were made only to visit his wife and family members in Peshawar.
He first came to the attention of American intelligence months ago when he was in contact with Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan who are believed to play a significant role in trying to encourage attacks against American and other Western targets, the officials indicated.
An American adviser to United States intelligence agencies who has been briefed on some details of the inquiry said that investigators were focusing in part on Mr. Zazis activities in Peshawar, where he met and married his wife. Peshawar is the capital of Pakistans North-West Frontier Province and a gateway to the tribal areas where the Taliban and Al Qaeda have made a base.
He was there getting training in explosives and bomb-making, the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation, said he had been told.
The authorities, throughout, have signaled their interest in other people besides Mr. Zazi. Several men were questioned, at length, as the raids of homes in Queens occurred over several hours Sunday night and early Monday. It was unclear, however, if the authorities who have remained outside those homes for days had taken more men away for additional questioning on Thursday and Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/nyregion/19terror.html?hp
