Pakistani Defendant Offers Testimony in NYC Terror Trial
16 May 2006
A Pakistani immigrant accused of plotting to bomb a subway station in New York City took the stand in his own defense Monday.
Shahawar Matin Siraj told a Brooklyn, New York courtroom that he planned the attack only after a police informer stoked his anger against the United States.
The 23-year-old defendant said he came up with the plot to bomb the busy Herald Square subway station in 2004 to impress the informer, Osama Eldawoody.
Siraj says he viewed Eldawoody as a brother figure, and maintains Eldawoody was the leader of the bombing conspiracy.
The defendant said he backed out of the plot when he realized civilians could be hurt.
Manhattan's Herald Square is a central shopping district, and includes department store Macy's famed flagship store.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
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