Washington: Two Pakistani-origin men in the United States have reportedly been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and to use a weapon of mass destruction.
The suspects Raees Alam Qazi, 20, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30, who are brothers made their first court appearance Friday afternoon in federal court in Florida.
The indictment alleges that between July 2011 and Nov. 29, 2012, the suspects were conspiring to "provide material support and resources, including property, services, funding, lodging, communications equipment, personnel and transportation, knowing and intending that this support be used in preparation for and in carrying out a violation of law, namely, a conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.’
The indictment also alleges that the suspects were "conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives) against persons and property within the United States" during the same timeframe, ABC News reports.
According to the report, a source revealed that the FBI found evidence that the younger brother had been monitoring recent FBI "sting" cases.
If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists charge and a life sentence on the conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction charge, the report added.
ANI
