Mumbai attacks: Who is David Coleman Headley?

David Coleman Headley had done recce of targets in Mumbai

New Delhi: David Coleman Headley on Thursday admitted before a Mumbai court via video conferencing that he was involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He further told the court that he was ready to appear before it as a witness, effectively saying he was ready to turn approver.

Here are some facts about Headley which you should know:

1. David Coleman Headley is a US terrorist of Pakistani origin.
2. He was born in Pakistan as Daood Sayed Gilani on June 30, 1960.
3. He was part of the terror group that conspired with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Pakistani intelligence in plotting and carrying out the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
4. Headley is believed to have travelled to Pakistan between 2002 and 2005 to take part in terror training organised by the LeT.
5. Headley visited India five times between 2006 and 2008 and carried out recce of several possible targets for Mumbai terror attacks.
6. His reconnaissance provided vital information for the 10 LeT terrorists and their Pakistani handlers, who launched the attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008 in which 166 persons were killed.
7. Headley is also accused of doing recce in Copenhagen for an attack on Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which had published controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.
8. Headley was nabbed in October 2009 by US security officials at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago while he was about to depart for Pakistan.
9. While on trail in the US for his involvement in the Mumbai attacks, Headly had pleaded guilty and turned approver thereby saving himself from a possible death sentence.
10. He was nonetheless convicted by a US court and sentenced to 35 years in jail for his role in the 26/11 attacks.
11. Headley was on November 18 this year made an accused in the 26/11 terror attacks case by a Mumbai court.