Four convicted for plotting attacks on New York synagogues

London, Oct 19 (ANI): Four men have been convicted in New York for plotting to blow up synagogues and shooting down military aircraft after being caught in a 2009 FBI sting.

According to the BBC, the men were found guilty after an informant's testimony and recordings of them discussing the plot were heard in the court.

James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen were caught after planting bombs at synagogues in the Bronx.

According to prosecutors, the plot also intended to target military planes at the New York Air National Guard base at Stewart Airport.

The FBI had been keeping on eye on them since an informant Shahed Hussain had met Cromitie, the alleged ringleader, at a mosque north of New York City, the report said.

A number of video and audio recordings showed Cromitie, believed to be their ring leader, ranting against Jews and saying that he wished to exact revenge against the US for military aggression in the Middle East. The clippings also showed practicing with a shoulder launched missile.

Defence lawyers had described the case as a fiction produced by the FBI. Cromitie lawyer Vincent Briccetti accused the FBI informant Hussain as 'a liar' and added: "Without the help of the FBI, Cromitie wasn't going to do anything."

However, Assistant US Attorney David Raskin said: "The FBI did exactly what it's supposed to do, it caught four dangerous men before they could do any real harm. Ordinary people wouldn't even dream of what these defendants did." (ANI)