N.Y. Subway Bomb Plotter Now Helping Investigators
The leader of the foiled New York subway bombing plot is now helping U.S. authorities identify foreign co-conspirators, a U.S. law-enforcement official and a legal source close to the case tell Declassified. Najibullah Zazi, the Afghan-born permanent U.S. resident believed to have masterminded the plot, pleaded guilty in February to multiple terrorism-related charges. According to the sources—who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive information—Zazi, as part of his plea deal, agreed cooperate with investigators, who are now trying to corral additional suspects.He appears to be making good on that agreement.
During an arraignment hearing last month for two alleged co-conspirators arrested in the case, a federal prosecutor, responding to questions from the judge, indicated that more suspects were being sought, and that they would "probably" come from "overseas." A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, which is handling the case, would not comment on the prosecutor's remarks or confirm that Zazi is cooperating with investigators. However, the sources said that it was Zazi who fingered other suspects to prosecutors. The officials said it was not clear if these suspects—believed to be hiding along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border—have been found.
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