How David Headley’s testimony exposed Tahawwur Rana’s 26/11 attacks terror link | India News

Tahawwur Rana and his reference to David Coleman Headley

Over 16 years after the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 individuals useless and tons of injured, a key accused within the conspiracy — Tahawwur Hussain Rana — is lastly being delivered to face justice in India. His extradition from the United States marks a vital second within the long-standing investigation into the worst terror assault on Indian soil. Rana’s position in Mumbai terror attacks was earlier exposed by his childhood good friend and co-conspirator David Headley. During his testimony in a Chicago courtroom, Headley revealed that Rana helped him arrange a faux immigration workplace in Mumbai as cowl for scouting terror targets.
A US courtroom discovered him responsible of supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba and a terror plot in Denmark. Headley’s testimony can now play a big position in India’s case as businesses put together to query Rana for his position in 26/11.
Security has been stepped up exterior Delhi’s Patiala House courtroom the place he’s more likely to seem after his extradition.

Here’s a have a look at who he’s and his link to David Coleman Headley.

Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Tahawwur Rana is a 64-year-old Pakistani-born Canadian nationwide and a former medical officer within the Pakistan Army. He hails from Chichawatni within the Sahiwal district of Punjab province in Pakistan. After learning drugs in Pakistan, Rana joined the navy as a part of the Army’s medical corps. He finally left the armed forces and migrated to Canada, the place he obtained citizenship.
In the late Nineties, Rana moved to the United States and arrange an immigration companies enterprise — First World Immigration Services — with places of work in Chicago and different cities. This enterprise would later change into a canopy for his and David Headley’s alleged espionage and terror-related actions in India.
His connection to David Coleman Headley
Rana’s identify grew to become prominently linked to the 26/11 case as a result of his shut friendship with David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American terrorist who carried out detailed reconnaissance of the 26/11 targets.
Headley, born to a Pakistani father and American mom, spent a lot of his adolescence in Pakistan. It was at a navy faculty in Hasan Abdal, Punjab, the place he met and befriended Rana. The two maintained their bond through the years, finally reuniting within the United States.
This friendship would later type the spine of a lethal conspiracy. Investigators allege that Rana was not solely conscious of Headley’s hyperlinks with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), however actively supported his mission.
Role within the 26/11 Mumbai attacks
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Rana performed a big help position within the planning and execution of the 26/11 attacks. Key allegations embrace:

The authorized journey and extradition
In 2009, Headley and Rana have been arrested by US authorities for plotting attacks in India and Denmark. While Headley pleaded responsible and turned approver — offering an in depth account of the 26/11 conspiracy — Rana continued to disclaim information of any terror actions.
India had lengthy sought Rana’s extradition. In 2020, the NIA formally requested it, citing his involvement within the 26/11 conspiracy. After extended authorized proceedings, a US courtroom accepted his extradition. Rana made a ultimate enchantment to the US Supreme Court, which rejected his petition, clearing the best way for his handover to Indian authorities.
What did the FBI and US courts discover?
Rana was arrested within the US in 2009. According to the FBI and US prosecutors, he supplied materials help to 2 terrorist plots:
The 2008 Mumbai attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba, through which 166 individuals, together with six Americans, have been killed.
A foiled plot to assault the Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten for publishing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed. The attackers had deliberate to behead the workers and throw their heads onto the streets of Copenhagen.
In 2011, Rana was convicted in a US courtroom of conspiracy to help terrorism within the Denmark plot and of offering materials help to Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, he was acquitted of direct involvement within the Mumbai attacks. He was sentenced to 14 years in jail by US district choose Harry Leinenweber.
“This certainly was a dastardly plot,” stated choose Leinenweber whereas handing down the sentence.
What did David Headley reveal about Rana’s position?
In his testimony in the course of the trial, Headley stated that Rana not solely knew about Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operations, but in addition supported him in establishing a entrance in Mumbai to hold out reconnaissance.
Headley testified that:

What does the FBI say?
The FBI’s Chicago workplace and high US prosecutors have strongly condemned Rana’s involvement in terror planning.

What occurs subsequent?
Rana is anticipated to be produced earlier than a particular NIA courtroom at Patiala House in Delhi. Security has been heightened in and across the courtroom advanced, with personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces deployed. Tihar Jail authorities have stated they’re ready to deal with Rana in a high-security ward, pending courtroom instructions.
The NIA is anticipated to hunt his custodial interrogation to additional probe his hyperlinks with terror outfits, Pakistani intelligence handlers and his position within the execution of the attacks.
Officials say Rana’s questioning may present:

Tahawwur Rana’s return to India after over a decade may very well be a key second in unravelling the complete conspiracy behind one of many worst terror attacks within the nation’s historical past.