Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Subway Bomber's Schoolmate Pleads Not Guilty
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Jan 10, 2010
Modified Jan 10, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Jan 10, 2010
Modified Jan 10, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The alleged Queens accomplice of subway bomber Najibullah Zazi pled not guilty to charges that he underwent terrorist boot-camp in Pakistan, and that he was helping Zazi plan an attack on New York. Lawyers say 25-year-old Medunjanin was illegally interrogated by the police, when they weren't present. They claim that—despite appearances—their client was not fleeing from police when he got into the car accident that led to his arrest on January 7.
Some sources say Medunjanin may have been attempting suicde when he crashed his car near the Whitestone Bridge. The Daily News reported Medunjanin called 911 before barreling into another car and yelled in Arabic: "We love death more than you love life! There is only one Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger!" The wreck occurred after FBI agents raided the man's house and took his passport. They caught the suspected terrorist as he was attempting to run on foot from the scene. "Before we conclude any significance to what we've heard about that 911 call, I urge everybody let's wait and see what the evidence really is," said his lawyer outside the courtroom.
Medunjanin traveled to Pakistan in 2008 together with two Flushing High School classmates, Zazi and Zarein Ahmedzay, a taxi driver also arrested for terrorist plotting on January 7. Although he formerly admitted to authorities that he'd undergone training with Al Qaeda terrorists, he denied that charge yesterday, and also said he was not involved in planning of a 9/11-scale attack on the United States. Other than to plead not guilty, Medunjanin was silent during his arraignment.
Tagged
al-qaeda
fbi
queens
subway bomber
terrorism
whitestone bridge
zazi
Sabrina Jaszi
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: There's a new hot duck, this time in Queens
Because a mandarin duck has been frolicking in Flushing, here are your early links: RHONY star racked up a lot of parking tickets, 57 best Italian restaurants in New Jersey, Judi Dench said the "Cats" movie was bad and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 9:40 a.m. ET
NYPD hate crime unit investigates smashed windows, ‘Pal Action’ graffiti at UES Capital One
The bank previously faced protests over a $90 million loan to an Israeli drone company.
By
Ryan Kost
News
NYPD hate crime unit investigates smashed windows, ‘Pal Action’ graffiti at UES Capital One
The bank previously faced protests over a $90 million loan to an Israeli drone company.
By
Ryan Kost
A reliably Republican part of NJ, until ICE came to town
By
Mike Hayes
NYC school integration debate exposes tensions between Black parents and Mamdani
By
Elizabeth Kim
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .