New York: Muslim testifies he was trained in Pakistan to use weapons for attack in U.S.

Source: Queens man testifies that terrorist trained him to use weapons – NY Daily News

A would-be subway bomber from Queens told jurors Tuesday that a person linked to the alleged Al Qaeda member standing trial taught him how to use weapons.

Zarein Ahmedzay testified in Muhanad Mahmoud Al Farekh’s trial that a man called “Yousef” taught him and two friends, also from Queens, how to shoot pistols, AK-47s and machine guns, as well as how to toss hand grenades in Pakistan’s treacherous tribal region.

Yousef has previously been identified in the trial as Ferid Imam, who traveled with Al Farekh from Canada to Pakistan in 2007. According to Brooklyn federal prosecutors, Al Farekh, an American citizen, was involved in a 2009 truck bomb attack on a U.S. military base. They said Al Farekh also helped with money collection for the terrorist organization.

Ahmedzay, 32, took the stand under a cooperation deal he’s struck with the feds. It’s the third time he’s testified for prosecutors since admitting he was plotting a deadly attack on the city’s subway system.

Earlier this week, jurors heard a taped deposition from Al Qaeda operative Sufwan Murad, who said Al Farekh was in the terror group’s external operations, but was reclusive and cautious about his moves.

On Tuesday, Ahmedzay said he and jihadi pals Najibullah Zazi and Adis Medunjanin went overseas in 2008 hoping to fight in Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda operatives said they could better serve the cause with attacks back in the United States.

Authorities foiled the attacks.

Ahmedzay could receive a sentence from time served to life behind bars. Al Farekh, 31, faces life in prison if convicted.