Chicago: The trial of the Mumbai attacks co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana commenced here on Monday with the prosecution saying the Pakistani-Canadian provided cover in the terror plot for his longtime friend David Headley who took
photos and videos of targets in Mumbai before the carnage.
The trial of Rana is being closely watched worldwide for
what testimony might reveal about suspected links between the
Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) blamed in the
attacks and the country`s powerful intelligence agency ISI,
which has been under scrutiny after Osama bin Laden was killed
by US forces on May 2 outside Islamabad.
During opening statements, Assistant US Attorney Sarah
Streicker said Rana provided cover for co-accused Headley, a
Pakistani-American, who took photos and videos of targets in
Mumbai before the attacks and that Rana led Headley to pose as
a representative for his Chicago-based immigration businesses.
Rana(50) has pleaded not guilty but Headley(50) his old
friend from military school in Pakistan pleaded guilty.
Trial proceedings began in Chicago`s Dirksen Federal
Building. The arguments in the trial are being heard by a
12-member jury.
Streicker said that Headley would testify at Rana`s
trial. Headley is cooperating with the government and may
discuss allegations that Pakistan`s government knew or
possibly helped plan the attack that killed 166 people
including six Americans.
PTI
