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David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who were placed under arrest by FBI last month, had mentioned during their Sep 7 conversations that the LeT had plans for launching a major attack on a Danish newspaper facility and National Defence College, located in New Delhi.
The attorneys had requested for denying bail to Rana, citing that he was indeed a danger for the world. They also mentioned that he may leave the US if bail application was approved. If Rana is proved guilty, then he will have to ‘enjoy’ imprisonment for 30 years.
Rana, who is a Pakistani-born Canadian citizen and a Chicago resident, was arrested along with US citizen Headley, who is his schoolmate, for conspiring against India and Denmark. The bail application of Rana will be heard in December.
The FBI has recorded the statements given by both of them for conspiring against National Defence College, New Delhi during their Sep 7 conversations.
"In the same conversation, Headley and Rana discussed Denmark and other targets, including the National Defence College in India -- Rana, in fact, used the English word "target" in this discussion," the FBI informed the court.
According to FBI, both the accused seem to have discussed and named numerous targets as a part of their Sep 7 conversations.
"More specifically, Headley listed four targets, one of which was 'Denmark', then commented '[a]fter that if I will pray for any other action call me a thief. God may help me complete this task'.
"Later in this same conversation, Rana asked Headley to 'pass along a message' to Individual B (unidentified LeT leader)," says an affidavit filed by the FBI earlier.
The two Chicago-residents then discussed a fifth target. More specifically, Headley referred to the earlier discussion, and stated words to the effect of "oh my friend, not four, five, five".
While Rana laughed, Headley stated "Defence College" twice, and Rana commented "right, this is it. I knew already".
After other discussion, Rana continued "That one, uh, I thought that was the target". Headley responded, "I don't know but once he comes then it will be known, but I am going to ask him to do that one first.”
Rana responded, "In this matter -- defence [UI]," the FBI said.
These conversations are proof that LeT gave more importance for their attack on National Defence College in New Delhi than other planned attacks. The US Justice Department also mentioned that Rana’s plea in the bail statement saying that he was duped by Headley was completely false.
"There is nothing to suggest that Rana was "duped" by Headley or somehow unaware of the illicit nature of their efforts.
"To the contrary, in numerous conversations, Rana and Headley engaged in coded exchanges to hide the true nature of their communications," said US Attorney Patrick J Fitzgerald while submitting before the US court yesterday.
Rana had mentioned that many people are there who will act as his security during the bail period. He has also mentioned that there are six houses which he can put as security for the bail.
But the prosecutors have raised protest against the bail application. The case will be heard on Nov 10.
Citing that the statements made by Rana were poking fun at Headley, the attorneys mentioned that Rana was also an active ‘ingredient’ of the plot.
"Beyond knowing and discussing that Denmark was a 'target', the evidence demonstrates that Rana actively participated in furthering the efforts of the conspirators," it said.
"In particular, Rana provided a cover story for David Headley, who performed extensive video surveillance of the Jyllands-Posten facility, video that was recovered during Headley's arrest."
"Headley gained access into the Jyllands-Posten facility by acting as a representative of defendant Rana's business," said the federal prosecutors.
"Based on email communications from Headley, defendant Rana was fully aware of the true purpose of Headley's travel to Denmark, and the false pretences that Headley used to gain entry into the facility," they added.
"On or about January 29, 2009, defendant Rana even posed as Headley to communicate with a representative of the newspaper and thereby maintain Headley's cover story."
According to them, Rana had also misled a government official, the Pakistani Consulate in Chicago, to obtain a visa for Headley to facilitate his prospective overseas travel.
