Terror-plot probe nets two in U.S.

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By Ben Conery

The FBI announced the arrests of two men Tuesday on terrorism-related charges stemming from a purported plot to attack the Danish newspaper that published a dozen controversial cartoons in 2005 depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad, including one in which he has a bomb nestled in the turban on his head.

David Coleman Headley, a 49-year-old American citizen, and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 48-year-old Pakistani national and Canadian citizen, called the plot "The Mickey Mouse Project," according to authorities, and they both purportedly arranged for Mr. Headley to travel to Denmark twice during the past year to prepare for an attack on the Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

U.S. authorities and Denmark's security service said there was "no imminent" threat.

According to court records, Mr. Headley did go so far as to visit the offices of the newspaper and told staff that his visit was on behalf of an immigration business that was considering opening an office in Denmark and advertising with the newspaper. Mr. Rana is the owner of several businesses, including First World Immigration Services, which has offices on Devon Avenue in Chicago, as well as in New York and Toronto.

"It is a worrying message to get," Jorn Mikkelsen, editor in chief of the Danish newspaper, said in a statement about learning of the apparent plot. "It is very uncomfortable for staff, and we are all affected by the threats."

Jakob Scharf, the head of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, called the purported plot "serious" but said investigators didn't think an attack was imminent. He said the purported plotters considered various options, including using handguns and explosives, and that investigators seized footage of sites around Denmark, ranging from the newspaper's offices to Copenhagen's main train station, the Associated Press reported.

"We cannot exclude that there could be more arrests" in Denmark or other countries, Mr. Scharf said at a Tuesday news conference.

According to authorities, Mr. Headley also traveled to Pakistan to meet with another purported conspirator, Ilyas Kashmiri, a top member of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami, which is a terrorist group with links to al Qaeda and suspected of carrying out last year's terrorist attack in Mumbai. In September, Kashmiri was targeted by a U.S. predator drone, and initial reports incorrectly stated that he had been killed, authorities said.

Authorities say Mr. Headley also met and kept in contact with other members of Kashmiri's group.

Mr. Headley was charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts involving murder and maiming outside the United States and conspiracy to provide material support to that overseas terrorism conspiracy. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Mr. Rana was charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorism conspiracy. He faces 15 years in prison if convicted.

Both men were arrested earlier this month, but the arrests were kept secret because "there were ongoing investigative issues that had to be addressed before the documents could be unsealed," said Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd.

Mr. Headley was apprehended Oct. 3 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport before boarding a flight to Philadelphia. Authorities say his final destination was Pakistan. His attorney did not return a message seeking comment.

Mr. Rana was arrested Oct. 18 at his Chicago home. His attorney, Patrick Blegen, said, "Mr. Rana is a well-respected businessman in the Chicagoland community.

"He adamantly denies the charges and eagerly awaits his opportunity to contest them in court and to clear his and his family's name," Mr. Blegen said. "We would ask that the community respect the fact that these are merely allegations and not proof."