AP, 14 Dec 09: A Chicago terrorism suspect knew in advance about the deadly Mumbai terror attacks — and offered congratulations to the killers, federal prosecutors charged Monday.

Papers filed in federal court in Chicago say Tahawwur Hussain Rana learned an attack was about to happen while traveling days before the Nov. 26, 2008 start of the carnage that left 166 people dead.

Rana, a Chicago businessman, is charged with providing material support to terrorists. Prosecutors say after the Mumbai attacks, he told an alleged co-conspirator, David Coleman Headley, to pass along his congratulations to the terror group for its excellent planning and preparation.

“Rana was told of the attacks before they happened and offered compliments and congratulations to those who carried them out afterwards,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Collins wrote in the court filing.

The filing also charges that in a secretly recorded conversation in September 2009, Rana and Headley discussed possible attacks on a number of other sites in India: Somnath, a temple; Denmark, Bollywood, a reference to the Indian film industry, and Shiv Sena, a political party with strains of Hindu nationalism. . . . .

GOVERNMENT’S THIRD MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR DETENTION PENDING TRIAL
US v Tahawwur Hussain Rana

2nd Chicago terror suspect knew about Mumbai attack
ABC7 Chicago, 14 Dec 09: A Chicago travel agent and terror suspect had advance knowledge of last year’s deadly three-day attack on Mumbai, India according to newly filed documents by federal prosecutors in Chicago.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana Rana, a Chicago travel agency owner and owner of an Illinois goat slaughterhouse, is heard on a secret tape recording admitting that he knew Pakistani terrorists were going to assault hotels and public buildings according to the government. . . . .

. . . . . The government’s motion describes how Rana had learned of the pending Mumbai attack during an in person meeting with Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, aka “Pasha,” a former Pakistani military officer who has been accused with Headley in connection with a Danish terror plot. Prosecutors say Rana and Pasha met in Dubai and discussed the Mumbai attacks before they took place. . . . . .