A Canadian businessman has been arrested along with a Chicago man, on charges of helping to plot terrorist attacks against overseas targets, including the Danish newspaper that printed controversial cartoons of the Muslim prophet Mohammed four years ago.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, was charged in a 48-page complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The Pakistani-born Canadian citizen "is the owner of several businesses including First World Immigration Services, which has offices in Chicago, New York and Canada," according to documents filed in court. His Canadian office is located in Toronto.
Rana also owns a farm in Kinsman, Ill., as well as a grocery store in Chicago. He resides primarily in Chicago.
David Coleman Headley, 49, was charged in a separate 39-page complaint that was filed Tuesday in the same court. Headley is a U.S. citizen.
Prosecutors have accused Headley of travelling to Denmark to pick out targets on two separate occasions, in January and July. Rana is accused of helping arrange his transportation.
It is alleged that the Jylands-Posten newspaper was among the targets of the plot. The newspaper printed a series of controversial editorial cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in September 2005, which outraged the Muslim world.
Prosecutors also claim that Headley reported and attempted to report on his activities to individuals with ties to terrorism, including one person linked to al Qaeda.
The complaint against Headley alleges that he communicated with Ilyas Kashmiri, a Pakistani terror leader, as well as a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba -- the terror organization that India believes is responsible for the deadly Mumbai attacks in November 2008.
Headley is charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts involving murder and maiming outside the United States. He could receive a life sentence if convicted.
The 49-year-old Headley -- who changed his name from Daood Gilani -- has been in custody since Oct 3, when he was arrested at O'Hare International Airport by members of the Chicago FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Rana was arrested in his home on Oct. 18, also by members of the Chicago FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Rana and Headley are both charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorism conspiracy, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
In a statement released Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said "law enforcement has a duty to be vigilant to guard against not just those who would carry out attacks here on our soil but those who plot on our soil to help carry out violent attacks overseas."
With files from The Associated Press
