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Uzbek man admits charges in plot to kill Barack Obama | |
(40 minutes later) | |
An Uzbek man has admitted at a court in the US state of Alabama to plotting to kill US President Barack Obama. | An Uzbek man has admitted at a court in the US state of Alabama to plotting to kill US President Barack Obama. |
Ulugbek Kodirov, 22, who was arrested at a motel in the state last July, could face 30 years in jail. | Ulugbek Kodirov, 22, who was arrested at a motel in the state last July, could face 30 years in jail. |
Kodirov was charged with threatening to kill the president, possessing an automatic weapon and providing material support to terrorists. | Kodirov was charged with threatening to kill the president, possessing an automatic weapon and providing material support to terrorists. |
Authorities say he was in the US illegally after he received a student visa but never enrolled at school. | Authorities say he was in the US illegally after he received a student visa but never enrolled at school. |
According to the plea agreement, in July 2011 Kodirov came into communication with someone known as "the Emir", who he believed was a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. | According to the plea agreement, in July 2011 Kodirov came into communication with someone known as "the Emir", who he believed was a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. |
Grenades and rifle | |
That group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US state department. | That group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US state department. |
Kodirov and "the Emir" discussed ways in which the president could be killed, including by sniper rifle from long distance. | Kodirov and "the Emir" discussed ways in which the president could be killed, including by sniper rifle from long distance. |
Kodirov rejected that option because he thought a sniper rifle cost too much and he was not trained to use one. Instead he plotted to shoot at the president at closer range. | |
The plea deal says: "Kodirov said that he did not care if he got shot and killed, as long as he killed President Obama." | The plea deal says: "Kodirov said that he did not care if he got shot and killed, as long as he killed President Obama." |
Kodirov is said to have met another man who spoke Uzbek, and sometimes went to mosque with him. | |
The agreement says that together they would look at extremist websites and videos, on Kodirov's laptop. | |
On 11 July, Kodirov asked his friend to buy him a gun so he could kill the president, saying he "knew this was what he was supposed to do for Islam". | |
A witness said Kodirov contacted an unnamed person, who became a government source, and bought a Sendra M115A1 automatic rifle from an undercover agent on 13 July. | |
The agent also provided Kodirov with four hand grenades that had already had the powder removed from them. | |
Kodirov was then arrested and has been held without bail since then. | |
The Uzbek's defence lawyers said the accused was likely to receive a lighter sentence on account of the plea deal. | The Uzbek's defence lawyers said the accused was likely to receive a lighter sentence on account of the plea deal. |
Kodirov is due to be sentenced on 17 May. |