US president targeted
February 11, 2012
An Uzbek citizen pled guilty in a US court on Friday to charges of planning to kill US President Barack Obama.
Ulugbek Kodirov pled guilty in a court in Birmingham, Alabama to one count of providing material support to terrorist activity, one count of threatening to kill the president, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
Kodirov said he had been in contact with a suspected member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, identified only as "the Emir," who suggested that he kill the US president.
Kodirov had discussed trying to kill Obama during his re-election campaign because he would be in public more often. According to the plea agreement, the 22-year-old Uzbek national told a friend that he "knew this was what he was supposed to do for Islam."
'Developed plan'
Kodirov was arrested when he tried to purchase an M15-A1 machine gun and hand grenades from an undercover law enforcement agent.
"He had a developed plan, he was reaching out to other individuals for aid and acquiring firepower necessary to kill the president," US Attorney Joyce White Vance said.
Kodirov arrived in the US on a student visa in 2009, which he overstayed after it was revoked in 2010 because he failed to enroll in school. Kodirov faces up to 30 years in prison and will likely be deported after serving his prison term.
slk/ai (AFP, AP)