NEW YORK — A federal judge has sentenced the father of an admitted terrorist to 4 ½ years in prison for destroying evidence and lying to investigators.

Mohammed Wali Zazi (ZAH'-zee) was sentenced Friday in Brooklyn for charges including conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Authorities said the former cab driver from Colorado tried to cover up his son's 2009 plot to attack the New York City subways.

His son, Najibullah Zazi, (nah-jee-BOO'-lah ZAH'-zee), admitted that he returned from Pakistan to the family's Denver-area home to practice making homemade bombs.

View Comments

The younger Zazi then drove to New York with plans to attack the subway system. Instead, he learned he was being watched by the FBI and fled back to Colorado.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.