Oregon Resident Pleads Guilty to Accessory After the Fact in Connection with 2009 Suicide Bombing of ISI Headquarters in Pakistan
PORTLAND, Ore. – Reaz Qadir Khan, 51, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Portland, pleaded guilty to the crime of accessory after the fact for the assistance he provided to individuals connected to the May 27, 2009, suicide bomb attack at the headquarters of Pakistan’s intelligence service in Lahore, Pakistan, that killed approximately 30 individuals and injured 300 more.
In entering his plea before U. S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman, Khan admitted arranging for suicide bomber Ali Jaleel to receive approximately $2,450 inside of Pakistan prior to Jaleel’s participation in the May 27, 2009 bombing. Khan further admitted to providing advice and financial assistance to Jaleel’s wives after the bombing knowing that such assistance would hinder and prevent the apprehension of Jaleel’s wives and others in the Maldives who may have been involved with Jaleel.
On May 27, 2009, Jaleel and two others conducted the suicide attack at the ISI Headquarters in Lahore. The blast resulted in the death of approximately 30 people and injured 300 more. In a video released by the media outlet of al-Qaeda shortly after the attack, Jaleel made a statement taking responsibility for the attack and he was shown preparing for the attack at a training camp in what is believed to be the Federally Administered Tribal Area of Pakistan.
The maximum sentence for accessory after the fact is 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $125,000. The parties have agreed to jointly request that the Court impose a sentence of 87 months in prison at defendant’s sentencing, which is set for June 8, 2015.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan D. Knight and Charles F. Gorder, Jr. from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Trial Attorney David P. Cora, from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, is assisting.