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Updated 06/15/2011 11:11 PM

Synagogue Bomb Plot Suspects Avoid Top Charge

By: NY1 News

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The top charge has been dropped against two Queens men accused of plotting to bomb synagogues here in the city.

A Manhattan grand jury decided Wednesday not to indict the men on a "conspiracy as a terror crime" charge.

It would have carried a potential sentence of life in prison.

While in court, Ahmed Ferhani, 26, and Mohamed Mamdouh, 20, pleaded not guilty to the other charges against them, including criminal possession of a weapon as a terror crime.

Ferhani and Mamdouh were arrested last month after a long undercover investigation.

The Manhattan district attorney's office maintains the men's intentions amounted to an act of terrorism.

Defense attorneys maintain their clients were entrapped.

Both men remain held without bail.