ISI named,2 failed attempts before 26/11: Headley’s big revelation

Headley joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba after being “influenced” by its head Hafeez Saeed. He then took his first “course” with them in 2002 at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and key 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes accused David Coleman Headley started deposing before a local court on Monday. Here are six of his most explosive revelations that we didn’t know about before:

Combination photograph of David Headley (PTI) and Taj Hotel at the time of Mumbai attack (HT Photo)

1)Terrorists tried to hit Mumbai twice before the infamous 26/11 strikes that killed 166 people but failed both times. The first attempt failed in September 2008 after the boat used by extremists to reach Mumbai’s shores hit rocks in the Arabian Sea. The terrorists survived but lost all weapons and explosives on board. A second attempt a month later failed also.

2)Headley joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba after being “influenced” by its head Hafeez Saeed. He then took his first “course” with them in 2002 at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

3)Headley, a United States citizen, visited India eight times before the 2008 terror strikes, travelling directly from Pakistan on seven occasions.

4)Headley took several videos and conducted trial runs of terror strikes in India during his visits. He also recced the vice president’s house in New Delhi, India Gate and the CBI headquarters.

5)Headley was asked by top Lashkar commanders to change his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley in 2006 so that he could enter India and set up some business.

6) Headley wanted to fight Indian troops in Kashmir but was told by his Lashkar handlers that he was too old.