News

26/11: David Headley says he changed name at the behest of his LeT colleague

by IBNS 07 Feb 2016, 07:19 pm

Mumbai, Feb 8 (IBNS) Deposing before a Mumbai Court from an undisclosed location in the US through video conferencing, 26/11 Mumbai attack conspirator David Coleman Headley said on Monday that he had been to India eight times prior to the strikes and even changed his name at the instruction from one of his LeT 'colleagues', according to reports.

While answering the questions. Dawood Gilani aka David Coleman Headley said that he had a general idea about the attack plan. David Headley said he took orders on Mumbai attack from Sajid Mir of Lashkar e Taiba.

He was in Mumbai seven to eight times to spot the strike locations, often shooting videos of places under his falsified identity.

 He also told the court that two previous attempts in Mumbai failed while the third one was successful.

A US citizen, Headley was arrested in the United States from the Chicago Airport and has been sentenced to 35 years jail term in 2013.

Public prosecutor Ujjal Nikal was quoted by Indian media as saying, "For the first time in Indian legal history, a foreign terrorist would give evidence through video link. His evidence may unfold many things behind the 26/11 terror attack...David Headley may give the broader aspect of criminal conspiracy, why the conspiracy was hatched and the people behind it."

"This would strengthen the present trial pending against Indian nationals. The US government has supported the endeavour taking into consideration the global challenge of terrorism," he was quoted saying.

Headley's confession is believed to open new sources about the involvement of ISI in the Mumbai blast along with the role of LeT mastermind Hafeez Saeed, who is moving free in Pakistan but has a bounty placed on his head by the US.

A Mumbai court earlier had pardoned David Headley, for turning an approver, or a prosecution witness, in the 26/11 case.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks had killed more than 160 people.
 
Six Americans were also killed on the coordinated attacks in Mumbai now infamously referred to as 26/11 since it had began on the night ofNov 26 in 2008.