Rana acquitted of 26/11 charges;LeT link established

Chicago, Jun 10: The high profile case in the Chicago court involving Pakistani-Canadian Tawahhur Hussain Rana has concluded. Rana was a co-accused in the

together with David Coleman Headley.

After much deliberations he was acquitted on charges of abetting the Mumbai attacks. But he was convicted for providing material support to the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and help carry out a terror plot in Denmark.

Rana will face a maximum sentence of 30 years in jail on the two charges on which he was convicted and will remain in Federal custody without bond, according to a statement released by the US Justice Department. The sentencing date was however not set.

The verdict was delivered by the US District Judge Harry D Leinenweber. Randall Samborn, the Justice Department spokesman commented, “A Federal Court jury has convicted defendant Rana on one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the Denmark terrorism plot and one count of providing material support to LeT, and not guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008."

The Justice Department further revealed in its statement, “The defendant, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, was found guilty by a Federal jury that deliberated two days following a trial that began May 16 in US District Court. The jury acquitted Rana of conspiracy to provide material support to the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed more than 160 people, including six Americans."

Rana appeared shocked by the decision and his attorney Patrick Blegan stated, “We do not know what the jury was thinking. We are disappointed".

The Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Todd Hinnen reiterated the US' commitment to wipe out terrorism and said, “Today's verdict demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable not only terrorist operatives, but also those who facilitate their activities. As established at trial, Rana provided valuable cover and support to David Headley, knowing that Headley and others were plotting terror attacks overseas. We will not rest in our efforts to identify and bring to justice those who provide support to terrorists."

Expressing the US' intent to render justice to the Mumbai attack victims, the assistant attorney Daniel Collins said, "Those who died in Mumbai demand justice. You (the jury) will find the truth that this man knew that his trained terrorist friend (Headley) was bent on killing people."

OneIndia News