Headley denies role in terror plot

Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley,an LeT operative arrested by FBI in October this year,has pleaded not guilty before...

Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley,an LeT operative arrested by FBI in October this year,has pleaded not guilty before a US court to all the charges filed against him,including that he conspired in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Headley,49,also pleaded not guilty to the charge of plotting terror attacks in Denmark against a newspaper that published cartoons of Prophet Mohammed. The next hearing of the case will be held on January 12.

Headley was charged by the FBI on Monday in a 12-count criminal information with six counts of conspiracy to bomb places in India and Denmark and for providing material support to terrorist plots.

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Talking to reporters after the arraignment,Headleys attorney John Theis said,David Headley is charged with certain acts arising out of things that happened in Denmark and India. These are very serious charges and we are taking them very seriously. I want to remind everyone that he is presumed innocent of these charges against him, he said.

On whether Indian authorities could get a chance to interrogate Headley,Theis said,That is something we will have to look at. I have no idea of assessing the chances. If they make any such requests,we will look at it when it comes, he said.

He was also charged with providing material support to Lashkar,and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of US citizens in India. If convicted,Headley could face the maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment or death.

Appearing before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber for his arraignment at a court here,a clean-shaven Headley wore an orange jumpsuit with white long-sleeved undershirt and blue sneakers. He was shackled at the ankles.

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Headley had made five trips to Mumbai from 2006 to 2008,taking pictures and making videotapes of targets,including those attacked. After every trip,Headley allegedly returned to Pakistan,met with other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs,videos and oral descriptions of various locations.

The charges also allege that in March 2008,Headley and his co-conspirators discussed potential landing sites for a team of attackers who would arrive by sea in Mumbai,and he was instructed to take boat trips in and around the Mumbai harbour and take surveillance video,which he did during his visit to India in April 2008.

Dont be selective in fight against terror: India to Pak

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday said the onus was on Pakistan to act with unalloyed determination against terrorism,its leadership and ideologues so as to eliminate the space which these elements continue to enjoy in Pakistan. India asked Pakistan not to be selective in the fight against terrorism and pointed out that the chargesheet against Headley showed militant outfits like LeT,HuJI and al-Qaeda continued to plot attacks against India.

Probe into Headley 26/11 link to end in 6 weeks: Pillai

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NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday said that in the next four to six weeks,investigations into David Headley and Tahawwur Ranas links with 26/11 attacks will be completed by the National Investigation Agency. We expect that investigations will take about four to six weeks and as soon as investigations are completed,the NIA will file the necessary chargesheet, Home Secretary G K Pillai said. ENS