Headley pleads not guilty to Mumbai terror attack

CHICAGO - Pakistani-American terror suspect David Headley Wednesday pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including conspiracy to bomb public places in India and abetting the murder of American citizens in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people.

Son of a Pakistani father and American mother Headley, who changed his given name of Daood Sayed Gilani in 2006 to hide his Pakistani origin, also denied in a Chicago federal court that he provided material support to the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), blamed for the Nov 26, 2008, terrorist attack in Mumbai.

Headley, 49, also pleaded not guilty to charges that he provided material support in an alleged plot to assassinate the editor and cartoonist at a Danish newspaper for publishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005.

He could be sentenced to death if convicted of the most serious charges, but prosecutors say he is cooperating with their investigation.

Headley’s associate, Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana had also pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he provided material support to terrorists for Mumbai attacks and the Danish attack plot.

Both Rana and Headley have been held in a Chicago jail since his arrest October by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In recent court filings, federal prosecutors have alleged Headley was directed by LeT in late 2005 to travel to India and perform surveillance of potential LeT targets. They allege in the spring of 2006 LeT suggested Headley could open an immigration office in Mumbai as a cover for his surveillance activities.

Around June 2006, Headley allegedly advised Rana of his assignment and obtained approval from Rana, who owned First World Immigration Services with offices in Chicago and Toronto, to open a First World office in Mumbai as cover for his activities, according to the government case.

Rana, according to the charges, directed an individual associated with First World to prepare documents supporting Headley’s cover story and advised Headley how to obtain a visa for travel to India.

During Headley’s July 2008 surveillance mission, a member of LeT communicated with Headley by passing messages through Rana, the indictment alleges.

In the Danish case, prosecutors allege Headley obtained Rana’s approval and assistance to identify himself as a representative of First World and gain access to the office of the Jyllands-Posten newspaper by falsely expressing interest in placing advertising for First World.

Before leaving Chicago for Denmark in early 2009, Headley and Rana had business cards printed identifying Headley as a representative of the Immigration Law Center, the business name of First World, according to the charges.