26/11 attackers had made attempts twice earlier

– Came to India seven times before 26/11 and once after the terror attacks, Headley tells court via video conferencing.

I hate India and hence chose to be part of the Lashkar-e-Taiba plan to attack Mumbai is something he has said in the past and he repeated it yesterday as well.

Cocky and condescending, Headley deposed at the city sessions court over video from the U.S., where he is serving a 35-year sentence in another terror case.

Headley’s deposition will strengthen India’s position against Pakistan’s support for anti-India terror groups, special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam told reporters.

The 55-year-old, who has turned approver in the case, revealed details about his training by LeT in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Abbottabad near Islamabad under the guidance of LeT founder “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”, whose picture he identified in the court, as also Lakhvi, and how he got in touch with three officers of Pakistan’s ISI – Major Ali and Major Iqbal and Major Abdul Rehman Pasha.

Headley’s evidence could help the prosecution nail the alleged co-conspirators in the attacks, according to officials. The suggestion that at least one of the attempts failed only because of providence served to underscore how vulnerable India’s financial capital was eight years ago. “Yes, they are the same people”. The people were saved by the life jackets but the weapons and ammunition were lost and the boat disintegrated.

“I had discussed it (cover story) with Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal of ISI, and they were very happy to see my Indian visa”, he told the court.

“But this was a decision and this was an event set up and established by the Justice Department”, he said and the State department “wouldn’t have gotten involved in that”. First was in September 2008 – it was aborted after their boat hit rocks near Karachi.

However, the third attempt was successful (26/11), he added.

Headley did not explain how the second attack failed. “However, the ten terrorists made it to shore and returned to Pakistan”.

Headley told the court his real name was Dawood Salim Gilani and he changed his name to David Coleman Headley exclusively to gain entry into India as an American citizen so that he could gather information for LeT.

Earlier, in his deposition, Headley said, “However, foreigners are not allowed in Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Area) in Pakistan, and they thought I was a foreigner and arrested me”.

The first deposition by a foreign-origin terrorist generated considerable excitement before the day’s proceedings began at Judge G.A. Sanap’s court in the morning.

After initially denying involvement, Headley confessed and cooperated with United States authorities to avoid the death penalty.

As the deposition went on, Headley became animated.

– Lakhvi suggested consulting ISI before approaching the courts against the ban.

Headley said he underwent a leadership training course under Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi and identified his trainers as Abu Furkhan, Sanaullah, Abu Hamzala, Abu Usman, Abu Saeed and Abu Fahdullah. All the information in the visa application form except place and date of my birth, mother’s nationality and passport number, was wrong.

“I applied for change in name on February 5, 2006 in Philadelphia”.

Headley’s counsel in the Mumbai court was senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani.

It is evident, the police had said, that Headley has committed the offences of conspiring with LeT for committing illegal acts in India; waging war against the government of India and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“A little over-smart, wasn’t he?”