Accessibility links

Breaking News
USA

FBI Says Terror Suspect Wanted to Fight US Abroad


FBI Investigators leave the home of Farooque Ahmed in Ashburn, Va. Ahmed, a naturalized citizen born in Pakistan was arrested Wednesday and charged with trying to help people posing as al-Qaida operatives planning to bomb subway stations around the nation
FBI Investigators leave the home of Farooque Ahmed in Ashburn, Va. Ahmed, a naturalized citizen born in Pakistan was arrested Wednesday and charged with trying to help people posing as al-Qaida operatives planning to bomb subway stations around the nation
U.S. law enforcement officials say a man arrested for allegedly plotting attacks on the Washington subway system also wanted to travel overseas to fight against U.S. forces.

A document from the Federal Bureau of Investigation unsealed Thursday says the suspect, Farooque Ahmed, and an unnamed associate planned to fight in Pakistan or Afghanistan early next year.

The document, used to support an arrest warrant for Ahmed, says the suspect was trying to make contact with terror groups. It says he held several meetings with agents posing as al-Qaida operatives.

Ahmed, 34, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was arrested Wednesday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.

Justice Department officials say he had been scouting out subway stations in the Washington area since April, and that he was planning simultaneous bomb attacks. They say investigators closely followed his activities and that the public was never in any danger.

Authorities say Ahmed allegedly met with a person he believed to be affiliated with al-Qaida, and on several occasions photographed, videotaped and drew diagrams of subway stations in Washington's nearby Virginia suburbs near the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. He is also alleged to have suggested where the explosives should be placed in order to kill the most people.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.
XS
SM
MD
LG