Accused Al Qaeda plotter claims he was just 'chasing women on the Internet'

Accused terrorist Abid Naseer argued in court Monday that he never plotted to blow up random people in the U.S. and Europe, but was rather trying to meet girls online.

Naseer is accused of training with Al Qaeda in Pakistan and conspiring to bomb targets in England, Denmark, and New York City. And according to prosecutors, in emails Naseer and his co-conspirators tried to hide their true intentions by concocting fictional women as coded language for weapons. For instance, prosecutors questioned why Naseer characterized a woman as "crystal clear," saying it was "more likely the defendant was talking about a substance's chemical properties."

But in closing arguments Monday, Naseer, who acted as his own attorney, denied that interpretation, claiming he was merely "chasing women on the Internet."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

A jury in Brooklyn is to begin deliberations in the case Tuesday.