2 reportedly eyed India for terrorist attack

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By Mike Robinson ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO | A Chicago man charged with scheming to launch a terrorist attack on a Danish newspaper also discussed a possible attack against a military college in India and advised a member of a Pakistan-based terrorist group on how to slip people into the U.S., prosecutors said Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors said in court papers that Chicago businessman Tahawwur Rana in September talked with another man charged in the case about the National Defense College of India as a possible target.

"Recorded conversations involving the defendant, e-mails and other documentary evidence demonstrate that the defendant conspired to provide and did provide material support to the conspiracy," prosecutors said in court papers.

Mr. Rana, 48, and another man, David Headley, 49, are charged with conspiring to attack the Copenhagen newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which sparked outrage in much of the Muslim world in 2005 by publishing 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

The court papers were filed as Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan met with attorneys to discuss the possible release of Mr. Rana on bond.

Prosecutors offered the new allegations to reinforce their argument that Mr. Rana should remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Mr. Headley is scheduled to have a bond hearing later.

Defense attorney Patrick Blegen disputes government claims that Mr. Rana is a danger to the community and a flight risk. He said friends and relatives in Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Texas will post their homes to secure a bond.

With supporters in Canada also willing to post cash, Mr. Rana could post a bond of $1 million to guarantee that he would not flee to avoid prosecution, Mr. Blegen said.

Judge Nolan did not rule on the bond and scheduled another hearing on the request for next Tuesday.