American terror-trained in Pak pleads guilty

Daniel Patrick Boyd, known by the name "Saifullah", who received military style training in terrorist camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, has pleaded guilty to terror charges, Justice Department has said.

"Daniel Patrick Boyd admitted his role in a multi-year conspiracy to advance violent jihad by recruiting and helping young men travel overseas to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who helped bring about today's successful outcome," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

According to the superseding indictment, during the period from 1989 through 1992, 40-year-old Boyd traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan where he received military-style training in terrorist training camps for the purpose of engaging in violent jihad.

Following this training, according to the indictment, he fought in Afghanistan. From November 2006 through at least July 2009, Boyd conspired with the other defendants to provide material support and resources to terrorists, including currency, training, transportation and personnel.

The object of the conspiracy, according to the indictment, was to advance violent jihad, including supporting and participating in terrorist activities abroad and committing acts of murder, kidnapping or maiming persons.

The indictment further alleges that, as part of the conspiracy, the defendants prepared themselves to engage in violent jihad and were willing to die as martyrs.

They also allegedly offered training in weapons and financing, and helped arrange overseas travel and contacts so others could wage violent jihad overseas, it said.

At sentencing, set for May 2011, Boyd faces potential life in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons in a foreign country and a potential 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

His plea comes just a week after American woman Colleen LaRose, 47, who called herself "JihadJane" pleaded guilty to terror charges stemming from a plot to kill a Swedish artist.

Last October, Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad was sentenced to life in prison for his botched car bomb attempt in New York's Times Square, but in a chilling statement warned that jihadist war "has just begun."

Image: Undated handout photo of Daniel Patrick Boyd

Phototgraph: Reuters