By Joe Anuta
The former Flushing High School student who was found guilty of terrorism charges in March was sentenced to life in prison Friday in Brooklyn federal court.
Adis Medunjanin, 34, was convicted of several charges related to terrorism after he and two of his former high school classmates traveled to Pakistan for training in 2008 and then conspired to blow up New York City subways in 2010.
“Adis Medunjanin sought martyrdom for himself and death for innocent New Yorkers as part of al-Qaeda’s plan to spread terror within our shores. Instead he will now spend the rest of his life where he belongs — behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch. “Justice demanded a sentence of life for this al-Qaeda operative, who was dedicated to mass murder and destruction in the New York City subways.”
In 2008, Medunjanin traveled to Pakistan with Najibullah Zazi and Zarein Ahmedzay and received training from al-Qaeda.
The trio returned to America and hatched their plot, and in 2010 Zazi drove bomb-making materials into the city from his Colorado home, only to be captured by authorities.
Zazi and Ahmedzay both pleaded guilty in 2010.
Medunjanin was arrested on the Whitestone Expressway days before the plot was set to take place. He called 911 from behind the wheel and told an operator, “We love death more than you love your life.” before he hit another car and was taken into custody.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
