Monday 8 February 2016

Headley names Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, ISI in court

David Headley joined LeT and took his first “course” with them in 2002 at Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. File photo 
Lashkar operative David Headley said to a special Mumbai court on Monday that his Lashkar "colleague" Sajid Mir was his main contact in the terror outfit.
Acting on Mir's instructions, Headley changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley. He then applied for a U.S. passport with the changed name.
Headley testified that he wanted a changed name and new passport in order to enter India. "So that I could enter with an American name and to conceal my identity," he said deposing before special judge G.A. Sanap via video conferencing from an undisclosed location in the U.S.
Headley also said that Mir told him to go to India and set up an office in order to settle in India. He was also told to make "a general video of the city of Mumbai."
Accordingly, Headley came to India on eight occasions. Seven of the eight times he visited Mumbai, directly from Pakistan.
Headley also testified to making a visa application with false details for protecting his cover in India.
Headley recognised Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's photograph and ISI in the court.
"Lashkar-e-Taiba is a militant organisation in Pakistan, whose goal is to fight the Indian Army and assist the people of Kashmir. They carry out all the terror activities in India, " Headley told the court.
I joined Lashkar in 2002 for a course in Muzaffarabad, Lashkar's headquarters. I heard a speech by Hafiz Saeed saab and was motivated," said Headley during the deposition.
Headley also testified using multiple email ids to create deception.
LeT made two unsuccessful attempts to carry out terror attacks before finally striking in November 2008, once in September and another in October.
He also added that the same ten people who were involved in the 26/11 attacks made two previous failed attempts on Mumbai.

No comments:

Post a Comment