NEW YORK, April 23 (UPI) -- Zarein Ahmedzay, a New York man accused in the al-Qaida plot to blow up the city's subway system, pleaded guilty Friday, federal authorities said.
The U.S. Justice Department said Ahmedzay, 25, faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to use bombs against people or property in the United States, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support to al-Qaida.
"The facts disclosed today add chilling details to what we know was a deadly plot hatched by al-Qaida leaders overseas to kill scores of Americans in the New York City subway system in September 2009," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. "This plot, as well as others we have encountered, makes clear we face a continued threat from al-Qaida and its affiliates overseas."
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller said Ahmedzay's plea "makes clear that he betrayed his adopted country and its people by providing support to al-Qaida and planning to bring deadly violence to New York."
Ahmedzay's is one of three guilty pleas in the case.
Authorities said in 2008 Ahmedzay, Najibullah Zazi and a third individual flew to Pakistan and tried unsuccessfully to get into Afghanistan to join the Taliban. When that effort failed, they hooked up with al-Qaida operatives in Peshawar and traveled to Waziristan for training.
Authorities said they were convinced they would be of more use in advancing jihad, or holy war, if they returned to New York and conducted attacks there.
Ahmedzay and Zazi returned to New York and began their unsuccessful plot to attack subway trains.
