LeT, al Qaeda wanted to target National Defence College: David Headley

Mumbai: A day after dropping a bombshell by naming Ishrat Jahan as one of the LeT suicide bombers, 26/11 attacks convict David Coleman Headley is testifying for the fourth day before a Mumbai court on Friday.

Highlights of the testimony:

- I visited Gateway of India, Cuffe Parade, Worli to select landing site for 26/11 attackers and later finalized Cuffe Parade

- Went back to Pakistan after my Mumbai visit frm April 9-15, 2008; met Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal, showed them video of possible landing sites

 

- I also did recce of Mumbai airport. But, Major Iqbal was unhappy for not including Mumbai airport as a target spot

- I was in Pakistan from April 15 to June 30, 2008, but during this period, somewhere in May, I visited New York and Philadelphia

- During this time I had a telephonic conversation with Tahawwur Rana, and informed him about my Mumbai visit and suggestions for landing site

 

- I visited Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple, made video of premises and purchased 15-20 wrist bands (sacred thread) for 26/11 attackers so that they would look like Indians, as a cover up of their identities

- When I returned to Pakistan, I gave those bands (sacred threads) to Sajid Mir who thought it was a good idea

- I was in Pakistan from June 1 to 30, 2008. During this period I met Sajid Mir, Abu Khafa, Abdur Rehman Pasha, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and Major Iqbal

​- l discussed selected target spots with them

- Lakhvi said, this (26/11 attack) is very important. It will be an answer to all bomb blasts done by India in Pakistan. It will be our revenge

- Chabad House was selected by LeT as a target as it was an international location where Jewish and Israeli people were staying

- Major Iqbal said that in future I should recruit people from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for ISI, who can collect classified information

- David Headley admits he visited and made a video of BARC, and then handed it over to Major Iqbal and Sajid Mir

- Major Iqbal asked me to survey the Naval Air Station in Mumbai, which I did and then discussed about it with LeT operatives

- In July 2008 I visited Chabad House (Nariman House) in Mumbai, made a video of the premises as I knew that it was a Jewish community centre

- Also discouraged LeT from attacking Naval Air Station and Siddhivinayak Temple as I observed that both are heavily guarded

- I was asked by Sajid Mir and Abdur Rehman Pasha to conduct recce of the Chabad House (Nariman House)

- I met Rajaram Rege (Uddhav Thackeray's PRO) at Shiv Sena headquarters in Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar (Mumbai), because I was interested in accessing the building

- I developed a close friendship with him (Rajaram Rege)

- I wanted to access the Shiv Sena Bhawan in case LeT is interested in attacking the building in future

- I met Rahul Bhatt (filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son) through a person called Vilas, during a body-building competition. Vilas was the in-charge of Moksha Gym

​- I took a video of Shiv Sena Bhawan and handed it over to LeT; they were planning to target Shiv Sena HQ and Bal Thackeray in future

- Sajid Mir asked me to develop my friendship with Rajaram Rege

​- Headley admits 26/11 attackers used Indian cell phones and got directions from control room in Karachi

- Sajid Mir gave me one of those Indian cell phone numbers, asked me to visit Wagah border to check if it's working in that area

- I heard in news that one terrorist named Ajmal Kasab was captured by security forces in Mumbai. Sajid Mir and entire LeT were saddened by this

- Headley admits the 10 terrorists carried out attacks various places of Mumbai such as CST, Hotel Taj, Oberoi, Cafe Leopold and Chabad House

- The 10 attackers were divided in groups of two at the time of 26/11 attack

- My wife met Hafiz Saeed and requested him to convince me to take her back as I had divorced her

- My wife Faiza knew that I was a true follower of Hafiz Saeed who called me through somebody after hearing my wife's request

- On November 28, 2008, I got an e-mail from my wife stating "Congratulations on your graduation, ceremony was great"

 

- She was talking about the 26/11 attacks, says Headley after being asked by Special Public Prosecutor about what that email meant

- My wife gave me full credit for the successful terror attacks

- When shown the picture of Ajmal Kasab, David Headley said in court: "Rahmatullah Ali" (May God bless you)

- I was also working for al Qaeda, says David Headley

- David Headley admits that LeT intended to attack National Defence College (Delhi) many years ago.

- Met Ilyas Kashmiri in Feb 2009, he asked me to go to India to conduct recce for future attacks

- He asked me to survey National Defence College (Delhi), Chabad House (Pushkar, Pune) & Chabad House (Goa)

​- Ilyas Kashmiri wanted to target National Defence College because it was a prime target

- Ilyas Kashmiri said National Defence College was a high value target and many senior Indian Army officers stay there

- Ilyas Kashmiri gave me money for air fare. I didn't share these facts with LeT because I thought they won't allow this visit

- One of the reasons I didn't tell about this to LeT is that they will think I may be apprehended in India

- Abdur Rehman Pasha said that if we target National Defence College successfully, number of deaths of Army Brigadiers and Generals will be more than deaths in any India-Pak war

- In 2007, Sajid Mir asked me to take a look at National Defence College if I visit Delhi. I did that, but didn't make a video