Accused terrorist Najibullah Zazi pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Tuesday on charges he plotted to detonate weapons of mass destruction against New York City.
U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Dearie ordered Zazi to be held without bail in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his next court appearance Dec. 3, according to published reports.
Court papers say that the Afghani-born Zazi, 24, spent the past year learning everything he could about bombs and bomb making. He allegedly traveled to Pakistan to learn how to make bombs, did extensive research on the internet about bomb parts, and purchased large quantities of chemicals used in bombs — including hydrogen peroxide from beauty parlors.
Zazi capped off his research by traveling to New York City on Sept. 10, 2009 for some final reconnaisance, justice department officials said.
Zazi was arrested Sept. 19 in Denver along with his father, Mohammed Zazi, on charges of lying to investigators about his role in the terrorist plot. He was indicted in New York last week on the new charges.
A New York City man, Ahmad Afzali, was also arrested on Sept. 19 on similar charges.
Investigators are attempting to identify additional accomplices, law enforcement officials said.
