Rana, Headley part of 26/11 terror team: US Federal Attorney

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Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana knowingly conspired with David Headley and both were part of the same team that carried out the Mumbai terror assault in 2008, a US Federal Attorney told a Chicago court on Tuesday.

"Evidences flatly contradicts the defence argument that Rana was not part of it. Rana and Headley were part of the same team," the attorney Vicky Peters said as the closing argument in the Rana case started.

"Rana knowingly conspired with Headley on terror plots, both Mumbai and Copenhagen. Rana was not fooled by Headley. Rana was not duped by Headley. Rana knew about the terror plots and helped him in carrying these terror plots and activities," he said.

Rana was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts on February 15 last year for planning out the Mumbai attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the bombings and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai.

If convcited, Rana, 50, faces a possible life sentence.

Headley, a LeT operative, has admitted to 12 terrorism charges in March, 2010 after striking a deal with US prosecutors to avoid death penalty or extradition to India, Pakistan or Denmark to face related charges.

"In 2005 Headley told Rana that he was receiving training from Lashkar. There is no dispute that LeT is a designated terrorist organisation".

In 2006 Rana helped Headley open an immigration office even though he had no immigration experience.

Rana knew that Headley had other projects in India and was working with HuJI commander Iliyas Kashmiri and Sajid Mir, one the Pakistani handlers of Headley. Headley briefed Rana every time he came back from India.

Rana knew by May of 2008 of the Mumbai terrorist attack plan. Pakistani handlers knew that Rana was helping Headley in the terror endeavour," the attorney said.

Rana who did not appear tense, greeted his attorneys and smiled at his wife Samraz who was seated in the courtroom.

"Why did Rana helped him conceal his identity when he applied for Pakistani visa before Chicago consulate. Why the two would set up a secret email account?", Peter asked. "The reason Rana created this email to help Headley keep his secrets. It is a case about two terror plots."

"If Rana was being duped, any info sharing with him by Headley would have been deadly."

There was communication between high-level terrorists in Pakistan and Headley wherein they knew that he was sharing information with Rana. Terror leaders in Pakistan would not have let thus happen unless Rana was part of the team, Peters said. In assisting Lashkar the defendants contributed to the deaths in Mumbai.

Rana's Attorney Patrick Blegen in his defence arguments said Headley made outrageous statement to FBI when he was working for LeT. "Headley thinks he can fool anyone. He is much more than a simple liar," Blegen said.

"Nothing is simple when it comes to Headley. He is a coneman. He think he can fool everyone. He was really training with Lashkar in Pakistan and told FBI that he was their man," Blegen fired back at the beginning of his closing argument.

"Headley used everybody. He told one thing to one person and other thing to the other. He told the court that he and Rana do not even share religious believes."

Blegen said that Rana was indeed an unwilling dupe of his old friend David Headley and that Rana was not told the truth. "Ignorance is not knowledge," Blegen said.

Rana would not have gone to Mumbai if he knew about Mumbai. "No one would go if a attack is going to happen," he argued.

"What Headley is doing ... Using Rana to steal money in Pakistan. Till the last minute Headley hided information about Mumbai from Rana. Headley didn't gave Rana a hat he bought in Denmark and gave it to all his co-conspirators.

Rana is not a knowing conspirator. Headley was fooling Rana around because he wanted money from Rana. Headley used Rana. He was playing on both ends. Emails says that Rana was trying to keep the office open even after Mumbai attacks.

"Headley wanted to write a book make a movie and make money. So he is not remorse. He has no remorse about it. By now we know Headley lies. He is a lier. He lies under oath. He lies to accomplish his goals."

According to defence Attorney Headley warned only two persons about the Mumbai attack that is Rahul Bhatt and Rana. This means that none of the two were aware about the attack.

"Rahul Bhatt got warned about Mumbai attack. Remember Headley is working for a Pakistani spy agency. Rana is not the only one who got the warning. Who did not get warned about the attack because they were all part of the plot. Headley wanted to warn Rana prior to the attack," Blegen said.

"Why Headley never sent any email from LeT to Rana?,” he argued.

"All Rana knew was about ISI and not Lashkar. Headley was controlling the flow of information. Headley communicated with Sajid about Raja Rege of Shiv Sena. ISI wanted to get info on it. Sajid responded to that email. Headley sent ISI email and not Sajid Mir's email to Rana. So headley controlled flow of information with Rana and others," he said.

Why headley never sent any email from LeT to Rana. All Rana knew was about ISI and not Lashkar. Headley was controlling the flow of information.

"As far as Rana is concerned contacts with Rege is all about money and business. Rege business did not go anywhere because Rana refused to conceal his Muslim identity."

Headley sent ISI email and not Sajid Mir's email to Rana. So Headley controlled flow of information with Rana and others.

"Headley's job was to make videos. Rana never saw a single moment of it. Videos were seen by those who were part of the conspiracy. Rana was never part of it so he never bothered to see these surveillance videos. Headley used ISI to cover Lashkar," defence Attorney said.

"Headley lied, controlled the flow of information and used people. He has been very successful at it. He engaged in loose talk."

Rana confession to FBI was for six hours but the federal prosecutors played before the court only a few minute clips. Rana tells the truth. The government is at the sole discretion.

This is the third time Headley is cooperating with the federal government. He knows how to handle it. Headley sacrificed Rana for himself and his family. Rana never congratulated Rana about Mumbai, Blegen said.

On September 7, there was a conversation between one guy who didn't knew about Mumbai attack another guy who was pretending that he didn't knew about Mumbai attack.

Rana bought air ticket for Headley only because Headley's wife could not do it. "You can't rely on Headley for anything," Blegen said.

Patrick concluded by saying that Headley was using Rana to scam money. We have established that Rana didn't any of those things. Evidence against can't be overwhelming if Rana was flying to Mumbai with wife. Headley fooled everyone. Don't let Headley fool you. Please do not sign convicted for Rana in this case.