Chicago: In a volte-face, Pakistani-American LeT operative David Coleman Headley, accused of plotting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and conspiring to target a Danish newspaper, on Thursday pleaded guilty before a US court here.
Forty nine-year-old Headley, who was arrested by the FBI's joint terrorism task force on October 3 last year, told US District Judge Harry Leinenweber that he wanted to change his plea to guilty, in an apparent bid to get a lighter sentence than the maximum death penalty.
India waiting for Headley's statement: Krishna
Headley, charged on 12-count, admitted guilty in all of them.
Headley, son of a Pakistani diplomat and a Philadelphia socialite, admitted to using his friend Tahawwur Rana's immigration company as a cover for surveillance activities in India and Denmark on behalf of Pakistan-based terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Who’ll protect us, Mr Prime Minister?
Wearing an orange jumpsuit with hands and legs shackled, Headley was produced before the court under unprecedented security arrangements.
Security forces along with sniffer dogs were deployed around the court. Special metal detector doors were erected at the entrance of the packed court room.
