A Bosnian-born U.S. citizen has been found guilty of planning a suicide bombing on the New York City subway system on behalf of al-Qaeda. Adis Medunjanin faces up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said the plot was just days away from being executed when the arrests were made.

Loretta Lynch: “Today, the would-be suicide bomber, Adis Medunjanin, has been convicted for his crimes, for his choices, I must emphasize, in joining the radical group, al-Qaeda, and plotting to bring destruction into New York City. The evidence at trial has established that the defendant and his co-conspirators were literally days away from conducting coordinated suicide bombing attacks on the New York City subway system. This trial has afforded a rare glimpse into the inner workings of al-Qaeda, how they look for those who have connections to our homeland, how they recruit those who are disaffected and seeking a place to go, and how they will stop at nothing to try and implement further attacks on our soil.”

One of Medunjanin’s co-defendants, Najibullah Zazi, was convicted two years ago. An Afghan immigrant, Zazi has said the plot was intended to highlight the U.S. killings of civilians in his native country. Outside the courtroom, defense attorney Robert Gottlieb said the completion of the jury trial highlights the importance of trying terror suspects in civilian courts instead of before military tribunals.

Robert Gottlieb: “Now that the jury has reached a verdict, I feel even more strongly today that the most appropriate comment is that the world should take note, our government should take note, the government leaders, and everyone else should take note, that the way issues in our criminal justice system about whether or not the government has met its heavy burden of proving somebody guilty is properly in the hands of citizens of a public jury.”