By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
A Pakistani born man raised in New York, who became the first person to ever be extradited from the United Kingdom on terrorism charges, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New York to providing material support to al Qaeda.
Syed Hashmi aka “Fahad” admitted providing air fare to help someone deliver protective gear like raincoats and sleeping bags to South Waziristan, Pakistan, authorities said.
The equipment was to be used by al Qaeda members fighting U.S. trooops in Afghanistan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Hashmi, 30, was arrested on June 6, 2006, at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, before he was to board a flight to Pakistan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He has been in custody for nearly four years.
Sentencing is set for June 7. He has agreed to serve 15 years in prison.
