Updated 04/18/2012 11:32 PM
Terrorist: Queens Defendant Could Not Make Bombs But Still Wanted To Attack City Subways
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The admitted mastermind behind a plot to blow up crowded city subway trains took the stand again on Wednesday in the trial of his high school classmate.
As Adis Medunjanin's terror trial in Brooklyn federal court continued on Wednesday, the defense began its cross-examination of Zazi.
Zazi gave intricate details to the defense of how he traveled to Pakistan and learned how to make bombs from al-Qaeda members.
He said it was all part of a plot developed five years ago in the parking lot of a Queens mosque where he, Medunjanin and another high school classmate, Zarein Ahmedzay, worshipped.
Zazi said they planned to fight alongside the Taliban before eventually agreeing to requests from al-Qaeda leaders to carry out an attack in the city.
The al-Qaeda leaders allegedly told the three men, “We need to send a message to the United States. Especially President Obama.”
Medunjanin was, according to Zazi, "unaware and ignorant in bomb-making," but allegedly agreed to don an explosive vest for the attack in the subway system.
“The three of us would go to different locations,” Zazi said.
On the stand, Zazi did admit to lying to the FBI repeatedly about his own role, even telling authorities that scales he used to weigh chemicals belonged to his mother and sister.
By testifying against his friend, Zazi is hoping for leniency when he is sentenced for his admitted involvement in the plot. Zazi told the federal courtroom that if he was freed, he would be a good human being.
The defense will continue to question Zazi on Thursday and try to paint the confessed terrorist as a liar.
"When the truth comes out in a trial is when you have both direct examination by the government, and then you have cross-examination. Ultimately you're going to have 12 people who have to decide is this guy worthy of believing?" said Robert Gottlieb, Medunjanin's defense attorney. "We'll know where they side when they reach a verdict."
Medunjanin faces life in prison if convicted of conspiracy and terror charges.
View Zazi's Bomb-Making Notes
These images are provided by the U.S. Attorney's office
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