Rana guilty of helping LeT, acquitted in 26/11 attacks case

Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana was today acquitted by a US court on charges of plotting the Mumbai attacks but was found guilty of supporting Pakistan- based terror group LeT and planning a strike in Denmark.

A 12-member jury here ruled that 50-year-old Rana was not guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to the Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were killed, and which carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Announcing the verdict at the end of two days of deliberations, US District Judge Harry D Leinenweber said Rana was guilty of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and plotting to bomb a Danish newspaper which had published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

Rana faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the two counts combined and remains in federal custody without bond, a US Justice Department statement said.

No sentencing date was set.

"A Federal Court jury has convicted defendant Rana on one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the Denmark terrorism plot and one count of providing material support to LeT, and not guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to the Mumbai terrorist attacks," said Justice Department spokesman Randall Samborn.

Rana, who was a co-accused in the Mumbai attacks with David Headley, was stunned to hear the verdict. His lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict as there was an "error" in the trial.

Rana's attorney Patrick Blegan said he would file post-trial motions that there was not enough evidence to convict him and that there was an error in the trial.