Al-Qaida Fighter Possible Witness at Brooklyn Trial

April 13, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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BROOKLYN (AP) — An American-born jihadist who joined al-Qaida could testify for the government in the upcoming trial of a man accused in a plot to bomb New York City subways.

Bryant Neal Vinas is listed as a potential witness at the trial of Adis Madunjanin (ah-DEES' may-DOON'-yah-neen). Opening statements are set for Monday in federal court in Brooklyn.

Medunjanin has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired with two childhood friends from Queens to suicide bomb Manhattan subway lines in 2009. Prosecutors say the three had gone to Pakistan together in 2008 to get terror training from al-Qaida.

Vinas, 29, who's from Long Island, was captured in Pakistan in 2008. He isn't charged in the subway plot, but could be called to the witness stand to testify about the inner-workings of al-Qaida.