Subway Terror Trial: Zazi Testifies Against Alleged Associate, Breaks Down On Stand
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Bomb recipes and secret code words, on Thursday CBS 2 got a look at some of the evidence in the big subway terror trial at Brooklyn Federal Court.
Reporter Tony Aiello was there when the star witness broke down in tears.
Najibullah Zazi, 26, has pleaded guilty and is testifying for the government now, but in 2009 he was still maintaining his innocence in a plot to suicide bomb the New York City underground, saying things like "I am not involved with al Qaeda."
As Zazi testified against Adis Medunjanin, his 2009 videotaped interrogation was introduced as part of the court record. Zazi said the men traveled to Pakistan with a third friend from Flushing High School, Zarein Ahmedzay, and trained as terrorists, Aiello reported.
Evidence includes Zazi's handwritten notes -- how to find bomb-making equipment at nail parlors, pharmacies and beauty salons.
Jurors also saw e-mails from Zazi, with code words "the marriage is ready," indicating the plot would proceed, Aiello reported.
Medunjanin has denied he ever agreed to join the bomb plot.
On Thursday, Zazi cried when asked if he still considers Medunjanin a friend.
"I love him," Zazi said, before breaking down in tears.
The jury that watched comes to court under tight security. Their names remain anonymous. The defense called that a scare tactic.
"Eleven years after September 11th … there just was no reason to create that sort of artificial pressure and tension on the jury," attorney Robert Gottlieb said.
Zazi testified the men considered bombing a Walmart store or Wall Street before settling on a subway system attack. He told the jury Medunjanin suggested striking during the holy month of Ramadan.
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