Police: NYC imam tipped off terror suspect

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A New York City Muslim imam, who acted as a police informant, betrayed his handlers by tipping off a terrorism suspect, authorities say.

Ahmad Wais Afzali, of the New York borough of Queens, was among three men arrested during the weekend in connection with an alleged bombing plot. In court records released Sunday, authorities allege Afzali, 37, tipped off suspected plotter Najibullah Zazi that federal agents were looking to arrest him and then lied to police about what he had done, The New York Times reported Monday.

The documents show that Zazi, 24, of Denver, abruptly left New York and returned to Colorado after having wiretapped phone conversations with the imam, which the FBI alleges contained talk of how police were interested in Zazi, mentions of events in Afghanistan and Pakistan and refers to "evidence," the newspaper said.

Federal authorities say that Zazi attended an al-Qaida terrorism training camp in Pakistan and was arrested in possession of notes detailing how to make explosive devices. Court documents indicate that FBI agents moved hurriedly to conduct raids at New York apartments last week based on information gleaned from Zazi's conversations with Afzali, the newspaper said.