NEW YORK — A Pakistani defendant in a U.S. terrorism trial was part of a broad al-Qaida conspiracy to attack targets in England, New York City and Denmark, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
Prosecutor Celia Cohen told jurors in her opening statement Tuesday at the New York City trial of Abid Naseer that he headed a terror cell in Manchester, England.
Naseer also is accused of a 2009 conspiracy to attack the New York City subways.
The defendant, who has opted to act as his own attorney, denies he was an al-Qaida member and says he has “no extremist jihadist views.”
Cohen said the first government witness will be Najibullah Zazi, who pleaded guilty in the subway plot.
Prosecutors say the trial will feature evidence seized during the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that left Osama bin Laden dead.
The jury also will hear testimony from undercover British intelligence officers who have been given permission to take the witness stand in disguises.
If convicted, Naseer faces a possible life sentence.
