Iman pleads not guilty to charges he lied to FBI agents investigating alleged NYC terror plot

Imam pleads not guilty to NYC terror charges

NEW YORK — An imam has pleaded not guilty to charges he lied to FBI agents investigating an Afghan immigrant who was later accused of plotting a terror attack in New York City.

Ahmad Afzali (AKH’-mahd ahf-ZAH’-lee) was arraigned Monday in federal court in Brooklyn. He was arrested in September amid an investigation of Colorado airport van driver Najibullah Zazi (nah-jee-BOO’-lah ZAH’-zee).

Zazi has been accused of receiving training from al-Qaida to build homemade bombs in a possible plot to attack the New York transit system.

Prosecutors allege the 53-year-old Afzali telephoned Zazi after being questioned by police and told Zazi he was under surveillance. They say he then lied by claiming he never tipped off Zazi.