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Suspect in Manhattan Synagogue Plot Blames His Alleged Accomplice

By Tom Liddy | May 14, 2011 11:50am

By Tom Liddy

DNAinfo News Editor

MANHATTAN - One of the suspects in a plot to blow up Manhattan synagogues said that he merely "was at the wrong place at the wrong time," according to a published report.

"I had nothing to do with this," Mohamed Mamdouh, 20, told the Daily News at Rikers Island.

He and Ahmed Ferhani, 26, both of Queens, are charged ith a slew of counts in counts in connection with the alleged bomb plot, in which they planned to disguise themselves as Jewish worshipers.

They were picked up Wednesday night in Midtown after they allegedly tried to buy a cache of weapons and ammo from an undercover cop.

"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time...I don't have problems with anyone," said Mamdouh, whose uncle worked at Windows on the World before the World Trade Center was bombed on 9/11.

Suspects in the Manhattan synagogue plot, Ahmed Ferhani (l) and Mohamed Mamdouh, at their arraignment Thursday.
Suspects in the Manhattan synagogue plot, Ahmed Ferhani (l) and Mohamed Mamdouh, at their arraignment Thursday.
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Lucas Jackson - Pool/Getty Images

The Moroccan immigrant placed the blame for the arrest on his alleged accomplice.

"I never spoke about guns and blowing things up, either," he told the paper. "That was him. It was all his idea."