Terror trial testimony: Lockheed CEO targeted

By Annie Sweeney

Tribune reporter

11:20 AM CDT, May 31, 2011
An admitted terrorist-turned-government witness testified today at a federal trial in Chicago that a co-conspirator with alleged ties to al Qaeda had once targeted the CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. in apparent retaliation for drone attacks in Pakistan.

David Coleman Headley testified that Ilyas Kashmiri, an influential leader of the Islamic Struggle Movement, was frustrated over the drone attacks and targeted the boss of the U.S. weaponsmaker. Drones are used to attack suspected insurgent sites along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Headley is in his fifth day of testimony at the trial of Tahawwur Rana, a Chicago businessman and Headley’s friend since childhood, on charges he helped in preparations for the deadly attack on Mumbai in 2008 as well as a plot to attack a Danish newspaper that never took place.

Kashmiri was indicted for alleged involvement in the Danish plot, but he has never been apprehended to face trial.

Headley is being cross-examined by Rana’s attorney, Patrick Blegen.

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