2011 Manhattan terrorism plot: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:50, 21 November 2016

Revision as of 04:07, 26 February 2017

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==Trial==

On the evening of May 12, 2011, the two suspects were [[Arraignment|arraigned]] in a Manhattan courtroom on terrorism charges. Prosecutor Margaret Gandy listed the charges and evidence, and the two were detained without bail. According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', "The arrests mark the first time New York state terrorism charges, rather than federal, will be used against individuals suspected in a terror plot." According to a source quoted by ''The Wall Street Journal'', NYPD detectives brought the case to the [[Joint Terrorism Task Force]], which decided not to take part due to concerns that the case was not strong enough to secure a conviction.<ref name="wsj1">{{cite news |title=Grenade Attack Suspects Charged |author1=Sean Gardiner |author2=Pervaiz Shallwani |author3=Devlin Barrett |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576319230734186512.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Top |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=May 13, 2011 |accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref> A New York State [[grand jury]] decided to indict the suspects on lesser charges, and declined to indict them on the more serious charges such as second-degree conspiracy.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Moynihan, Colin |author2=Rashbaum, William K. |title=Most Serious Charges Are Rejected in Terror Case|url=httphttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/nyregion/most-serious-charges-rejected-in-synagogue-bomb-plot.html|accessdate=July 5, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 15, 2011}}</ref>

At trial in March 2012, one of Ferhani's attorneys, [[Elizabeth Fink]], argued that he had been entrapped by law enforcement authorities.<ref>[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/lawyers-for-man-accused-in-terrorism-plot-make-case-for-dismissal/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 Lawyers for Man Accused in Terrorism Plot Make Case for Dismissal] [[New York Times]], March 13, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.thenation.com/article/173201/did-nypd-entrap-ahmed-ferhani# Did the NYPD Entrap Ahmed Ferhani?][[The Nation]], March 5, 2013</ref>

In a December 2012 [[plea bargain]], Ferhani pleaded guilty to terrorism conspiracy and terrorism-related weapons possession charges.<ref>[httphttps://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/ahmed-ferhani-pleads-guilty-in-plot-to-blow-up-synagogue.html Queens Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Blow Up Manhattan Synagogue][[New York Times]], December 4, 2012</ref> He was later sentenced to ten years in prison.

==Suspects==