Aafia Siddiqui Indicted for Attempting to Kill United States Nationals in Afghanistan...

Aafia Siddiqui Indicted for Attempting to Kill United States Nationals in
Afghanistan and Six Additional Charges

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael J. Garcia, the United
States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the
indictment of Aafia Siddiqui on charges related to her attempted murder and
assault of United States nationals and officers and employees. Siddiqui is
scheduled to be arraigned on the Indictment on Thursday, September 4, 2008, at
11:30 a.m. by United States District Judge Richard M. Berman in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York. According to the
Indictment filed in Manhattan federal court:

On July 18, 2008, a team of United States servicemen and law enforcement
officers, and others assisting them, attempted to interview Aafia Siddiqui in
Ghazni, Afghanistan, where she had been detained by local police the day
before. The United States interview team included, among others: three
officers and employees of the United States Army; two officers and employees
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and two United States Army contract
interpreters.

The interview of Siddiqui was to take place at an Afghan police compound in
Ghazni. In a second-floor meeting room at the compound -- where Siddiqui was
being held, unbeknownst to the United States interview team, unsecured, behind
a curtain -- Siddiqui obtained one of the United States Army officer's M-4
rifle and attempted to fire it, and did fire it, at another United States Army
officer and other members of United States interview team. Siddiqui repeatedly
stated her intent and desire to kill Americans.

Siddiqui then assaulted one of the United States Army interpreters, as he
attempted to obtain the M-4 rifle from her. Siddiqui subsequently assaulted
one of the FBI agents and one of the United States Army officers, as they
attempted to subdue her.

On the previous day, July 17, 2008, when Siddiqui was detained by Afghan
authorities, a number of items were in her possession, including handwritten
notes that referred to a "mass casualty attack" and that listed various
locations in the United States, including Plum Island, the Empire State
Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Other notes in Siddiqui's possession referred to the construction of "dirty
bombs," and discussed various ways to attack "enemies," including by
destroying reconnaissance drones, using underwater bombs, and using gliders.
Siddiqui also possessed a computer thumb drive that contained correspondence
referring to specific "cells," "attacks" by "certain cells," and "enemies."
Other documents on the thumb drive discussed recruitment and training.

Siddiqui, a 36-year-old Pakistani woman, resided in the United States from in
or about 1991 until June 2002, and obtained degrees from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Brandeis University. Siddiqui returned to the
United States on December 25, 2002, and departed on January 2, 2003.

Siddiqui is charged in the Indictment with: (1) one count of attempting to
kill United States nationals outside the United States; (2) one count of
attempting to kill United States officers and employees; (3) one count of
armed assault of United States officers and employees; (4) one count of using
and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and (5)
three counts of assault of United States officers and employees.

If convicted, Siddiqui faces a maximum sentence of: 20 years in prison on each
of the attempted murder and armed assault charges; life in prison on the
firearm charge; and eight years in prison on each of the remaining assault
charges.

Mr. Garcia praised the investigative work of the Joint Terrorism Task Force,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York City Police Department. He
also expressed his gratitude to the United States Department of State for
their assistance in the case.

Mr. Garcia said that the investigation is continuing.

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher L. Lavigne is in charge of the
prosecution.

The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations
and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

Yusill Scribner or Rebekah Carmichael, both of the U.S. Department of Justice,
+1-212-637-2600