A senior U.S. law enforcement official says an Afghan national
questioned by federal agents this week about an alleged terrorist plot
has admitted to ties with the al-Qaida terror organization.
The
senior official - who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity
Friday - says the man, Najibullah Zazi is now negotiating a possible
plea on terrorism charges.
Zazi has not yet been arrested or
formally charged. But U.S. federal agents questioned him this week in
three separate sessions in his home town of Denver, Colorado, in the
western U.S.
Zazi was questioned in connection with raids conducted on apartments in New York earlier this week.
Agents
searched Zazi's apartment in a suburb of Denver Wednesday. Agents had
also conducted raids on homes in New York's borough of Queens early
this week, just days after Zazi spent time in New York.
Authorities say bomb-making directions were found on his computer.
Zazi
said he drove to New York to take care of a business issue. He was
stopped in what was described as a routine police stop September 10 on
a bridge crossing into Manhattan.
FBI Director Robert Mueller has there is no imminent danger stemming from the investigation.
New
York has been on high alert since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Last week, the city marked the eighth anniversary of the suicide
hijackings that destroyed the World Trade Center.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
News
