David Headley Alleges Pakistan Role in Mumbai Attacks

Indian public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam speaks to media outside the sessions court in Mumbai. Punit Paranjpe—AFP

Indian prosecutor says Mumbai plotter has alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba failed to target Indian city twice before operation in November 2008.

An American who helped plot deadly attacks in Mumbai told a court on Monday that Pakistan-based militants had made two failed attempted attacks on the Indian city before killing 166 people in November 2008.

David Headley, who was sentenced in 2013 by a Chicago court to 35 years in a U.S. prison for his role in the atrocity, alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba militants had been behind the fatal assaults. “In the month of September 2008 and in October 2008 those attempts by the Lashkar-e-Taiba were unsuccessful on account of accident to the attackers,” said Indian public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, citing Headley’s testimony via video link.

India has long blamed Taiba for the coordinated attacks on Nov. 26, 2008 when Islamist gunmen stormed luxury hotels, the main railway station, a Jewish center and other sites in the country’s financial capital. The attacks, which lasted for three days, have been a consistent source of acrimony between India and Pakistan as New Delhi has called for Islamabad to bring the alleged masterminds to justice.

Headley, 55, was giving evidence to a special Indian court from an undisclosed location in America. The court is trying suspected plotter Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, also known as Abu Jundal. In December it pardoned Headley on condition that he testified to the court. The pardon does not affect the U.S. sentence.

Nikam, who questioned Headley for nearly five hours, said he had also revealed meeting a “Major Iqbal” and “Mr. Ali” whom the American claimed were serving with Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence.

“It is clear, we think, that there was a close nexus between ISI and LeT. That is what has been gathered from the revelations made from Mr. Headley,” said Nikam outside the sessions court in Mumbai.

Headley, the son of a former Pakistani diplomat, was sentenced after admitting scouting targets for the Mumbai attackers. He spent two years researching sites, even taking boat tours around the city’s harbor and befriending Bollywood stars as part of his cover. After initially denying involvement, Headley confessed and cooperated with U.S. authorities to avoid the death penalty.

Nikam said Headley had told the Indian court he had joined Taiba in 2002 and received two years of “military training,” including “in handling sophisticated weapons like AK47s.” He added that Headley said he had received training from Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks.