Al-Qaeda operative pleads guilty to US terrorism charges
NEW YORK - An al-Qaeda operative has pleaded guilty to terrorism charges on Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court.
Saddiq al-Abbadi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder American troops abroad and to providing material support to a terrorist group.
He admitted he "fought in Iraq between 2005 and 2009 against the United States of America with the intention to hurt, wound or kill these forces." He also admitted to being a member of al-Qaeda.
Prosecutors say that in 2008 he led attacks against American troops in which one Army Ranger was killed. Prosecutors say he also helped a New York man, Bryant Vinas, secure membership in al-Qaeda. Vinas was arrested for plotting an attack on the Long Island Railroad and later became a cooperating government witness.
