Federal prosecutors have stepped up efforts to keep in custody a Chicago businessman tied to an international terrorist plot, saying in their latest filing that DVDs linked to al-Qaida were found in his home.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, was charged last month with conspiring to take revenge on a Danish newspaper for publishing unflattering cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad that outraged Muslims.
A federal judge could decide on Nov. 19 whether to release Rana, owner of a Chicago Immigration business and a Grundy County meat processing plant, on bond pending trial.
Prosecutors alleged Friday that a search of Rana's North Side home Oct. 18 turned up DVDs produced by As Sahab Media, "commonly acknowledged to be the media wing of al-Qaida."
One DVD included commentary on the cartoon controversy, images of the Danish prime minister and a message of martyrdom from the bomber who apparently attacked the Danish embassy in Islamabad, killing six people in June 2008, authorities said.
A second DVD found in the home included a speech by Osama bin Laden, authorities said.
Rana's co-defendant, David Headley, posing as Rana's employee, traveled twice to Denmark to check out the newspaper office as well as a nearby station of Danish troops, the charges alleged.
Last week prosecutors alleged that Rana and Headley, also of Chicago, had discussed targeting the National Defense College in India, a military school. Rana also allegedly told an associate of the Pakistani terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba how to use loopholes in U.S. Immigration procedures to get others into the country illegally.
Rana has denied wrongdoing and said family and friends could post $1 million in property to secure his release.
jcoen@tribune.com
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, was charged last month with conspiring to take revenge on a Danish newspaper for publishing unflattering cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad that outraged Muslims.
A federal judge could decide on Nov. 19 whether to release Rana, owner of a Chicago Immigration business and a Grundy County meat processing plant, on bond pending trial.
Prosecutors alleged Friday that a search of Rana's North Side home Oct. 18 turned up DVDs produced by As Sahab Media, "commonly acknowledged to be the media wing of al-Qaida."
One DVD included commentary on the cartoon controversy, images of the Danish prime minister and a message of martyrdom from the bomber who apparently attacked the Danish embassy in Islamabad, killing six people in June 2008, authorities said.
A second DVD found in the home included a speech by Osama bin Laden, authorities said.
Rana's co-defendant, David Headley, posing as Rana's employee, traveled twice to Denmark to check out the newspaper office as well as a nearby station of Danish troops, the charges alleged.
Last week prosecutors alleged that Rana and Headley, also of Chicago, had discussed targeting the National Defense College in India, a military school. Rana also allegedly told an associate of the Pakistani terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba how to use loopholes in U.S. Immigration procedures to get others into the country illegally.
Rana has denied wrongdoing and said family and friends could post $1 million in property to secure his release.
jcoen@tribune.com
