A judge has declined to throw out an unusual state-level terror case against a man charged with plotting to blow up synagogues in New York.

The ruling came Monday in Ahmed Ferhani’s case.

His lawyers say the prosecution is based on insufficient evidence and dubious police tactics that targeted a mentally unstable man.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office says Ferhani was intent on attacking a synagogue and bought three guns and a grenade to do so. The buy was a sting.

Ferhani and co-defendant Mohamed Mamdouh were arrested last year. They’ve pleaded not guilty.

A grand jury declined to indict the men on a top-level terror conspiracy charge. They still face other terror and hate crime charges that carry up to 32 years in prison.

(Source: Seattle Times)