[JURIST] A New York man pleaded guilty [US DOJ press release] Friday for plotting to bomb the New York City subway system in 2009. Zarein Ahmedzay appeared before US magistrate judge Steven Gold [official profile] on charges of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass of destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the US, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The plot was never carried out after Ahmedzay and co-conspirator Najibullah Zazi [NYT backgrounder; JURIST news archive] realized that law enforcement was investigating their activities. He faces up to life in prison.

In February, the Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] announced [JURIST report] a five-count superseding indictment against Ahmedzay and another man, Adis Medunjanin. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped two charges against Ahmedzay. Zazi also pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to terrorism charges, and faces up to life in prison in connection with those. Medunjanin has pleaded not guilty [JURIST report]. All three men are alleged to have traveled to Afghanistan [Reuters report] and received training from al Qaeda.