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Report: Terror Suspect Admits To Qaeda Ties


Najibullah Zazi

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Several outlets, including ABC News and Fox News, are reporting that Mohammed Zazi, the man whose Colorado home was this week raided by the FBI in connection to a suspected terror plot has admitted ties to al Qaeda, and is negotiating to plead guilty to a terror charge.

That plea would be part of a deal to cooperate with the government. According to a law enforcement official, Zazi received explosives training. Other reports have suggested he was found with plans for building bombs on his recent trip to New York.

The news came after an earlier report this afternoon that, after questioning Zazi himself for several days, the FBI wanted to talk to to Zazi's father.

In interviews earlier this week, Zazi, 24, had insisted he had "no ties, no connection to al-Qaida." And his lawyer, Arthur Folsom, called the new reports "completely unfounded."

Late Update: The Daily News, using a different first name for Zazi than ABC and some other outlets, reports:

Lawyers for Najibullah Zazi, 25, were negotiating with federal officials for an agreement where he could admit receiving military training - but deny plans to injure any Americans, sources familiar with the case said.

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6 comments

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September 18, 2009 4:14 PM   

Well, bust my buckets! Obama's FBI caught a terrorist! A terrorist inside the country! Cool! Can't wait for Chain's take on this.

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September 18, 2009 4:28 PM    in reply to soupson52

I would wait until we find out if this is a false confession before I went al rejoicey.

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September 18, 2009 4:38 PM   

I have grown to trust but verify with ABC....and the FBI.

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September 18, 2009 6:07 PM    in reply to JohnW1141

I agree. I've been far more impressed with ABC's recent stories than much of their old stuff--particularly the late 1980s-1990s crap. I think they figured out a few years ago that they had step up their game (truthful news in this case). But, of course, verification is still pretty much necessary no matter what news source you're reading/watching.
As far as this Mohammed Zazi guy goes, I'm glad they caught him. Yes, that's the real news--they actually caught him. (let the relief-driven exhaling begin)

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September 18, 2009 9:21 PM   

Mohammed Zazi is the father's name, the Daily News isn't using a different first name for the 24-year-old suspect. The father was questioned for about three hours Friday afternoon.

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September 19, 2009 5:14 PM   

He'll probably be convicted of a thought crime ala Jose Padilla.

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