Additional New Yorkers have been questioned in connection with the alleged backpack bomb plot targeting the city’s transit system. Several of the men have been under surveillance since the case broke last month. It may only be a matter of days now that they find out what, if anything, the feds have on them.
Armed with word that more arrests are imminent, CBS 2 went knocking Friday to the fifth floor apartment in Flushing where terror suspect Najibullah Zazi stayed during his now infamous visit to the city. The apartment’s occupant, Naiz Khan, is now waiting the next round of arrests as federal agents and city detectives begin to wind down the investigation into the alleged bomb plot.
Zazi remains in custody and sources say potentially incriminating evidence found in Khan’s apartment tie him to the alleged plot.
Others in the Queens Muslim community are under surveillance because Zazi contacted them during his cross country trip from Colorado last month. It’s a waiting game that has members of that community on pins and needles.
“We’re worried about the backlash that comes across on a whole people, a whole Muslim people and a community because of one investigation,” said Queens Islamic Activist Mounami Maulik.
One of the people the feds are keeping a close eye on is Adis Medunjanin, a 25-year-old cab driver who lives on Parson’s Boulevard with his extended family. Every member of his family has been brought in and questioned in 14 hour sessions. Their computers and papers have been confiscated and returned to them, and they have all been released. They remain upstairs in their third floor apartment for now, hunkered down and refusing to answer the door while waiting for the next show to drop.
“We’re talking about American citizens, intelligent people, incredibly loving, a close-knit family,” said Robert Gottleib, Medunjanin’s attorney. “This is not a game for them. They are scared.”
The case could be largely wrapped by Tuesday, according to one source. That’s not soon enough for the people under surveillance.
They’re terrified. Almost all of them are law-abiding immigrants, many of them quite prosperous. They love the United States, they love their communities, they wanna be of assistance to the police, but they don’t want to be charged with crimes themselves,” said Ron Kuby, the attorney for Queens Imam Ahmed Afzali.
CBS 2 has learned that Khan now has a criminal attorney and will hold a news conference Saturday where he’ll continue to profess his innocence.
Meanwhile, Zazi’s father, Mohammed, pleaded not guilty Friday to lying to federal agents in connection with the case in Colorado. In Queens, Afzali remains out on bail for a similar charge.
Adis Medunjanin, a 24-year-old Bosnian immigrant, met voluntarily with investigators for 14 hours, said Robert Gottlieb, a New York lawyer representing him. Zarein Ahmedzay, a 24-year-old New York City cab driver, also was interviewed by the FBI, said his brother, Nazir Ahmedzay.
(Source: WCBSTV)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
yes, yes, law abiding citizens , they wouldnt hurt a fly. like all of them, so nice and polite like atta and the rest… untill they have the opportunity and blow us all up in the name of allah.