FBI arrests 2 men on terrorism charges

The FBI announced the arrests of two men Tuesday on terror-related charges stemming from a purported plot to attack the Danish newspaper that published a dozen controversial cartoons in 2005 depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad, including one in which he has a bomb nestled into the turban on his head.

David Coleman Headley, a 49-year-old American citizen, and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 48-year-old Pakistan national and Canadian citizen, called the plot “The Mickey Mouse Project,” according to authorities, and they both arranged for Mr. Headley to travel to Denmark twice during the past year to prepare for an attack on the Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

According to authorities, Mr. Headley also traveled to Pakistan to meet with another conspirator, Ilyas Kashmiri, a top member of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami, which is a terrorist group with links to al Qaeda. In September, Kashmiri was targeted by a U.S. predator drone, and initial reports incorrectly stated that he had been killed, authorities said.

Mr. Headley was charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts involving murder and maiming outside the United States and conspiracy to provide material support to that overseas terrorism conspiracy. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Mr. Rana was charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorism conspiracy. He faces 15 years if convicted.

Both men were arrested earlier this month, but the arrests were kept secret because “there were ongoing investigative issues that had to be addressed before the documents could be unsealed,” said Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd.

Mr. Headley was apprehended Oct. 3 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport before boarding a flight to Philadelphia. Authorities say his final destination was Pakistan.

Mr. Rana was arrested Oct. 18 at his Chicago home. Authorities said Mr. Rana is the owner of several businesses, including First World Immigration Services, which has offices on Devon Avenue in Chicago, as well as in New York and Toronto.