Imam convicted in JFK bomb plot

NEW YORK–An imam from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago was convicted Thursday in New York over a plot to blow up fuel supplies at John F. Kennedy Airport.

Kareem Ibrahim was convicted in Brooklyn federal court and faces a sentence of life in prison. He is the fourth and last member of the plotters to have been convicted in the 2006-2007 conspiracy against JFK.

“The defendant believed the attack would cause extensive damage to the airport and to the US economy, as well as the loss of innocent lives,” the Justice Department said.

Ibrahim was found to have given religious instruction and other support to the group, which wanted to explode fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline at the airport.
The ringleader, Russell Defreitas, had experience as a cargo handler. Ibrahim encouraged the others to approach Iranian militant leaders for support.

Defreitas and one other man were sentenced to life in prison. A fourth participant was sentenced to 15 years in prison.