New York, Aug 13 (AN): US law enforcement officials believe that the capture of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, an American educated Pakistani neuroscientist, is "the most significant" in the fight against terrorism in five years.
"She is the most significant capture in five years," former CIA agent John Kiriakou told ABC News.
"To find someone who has such rich information, computer hard drives, e-mails, that is really a major capture," he added.
Sources told the Daily News that Siddiqui carried with her a list of New York landmarks, including Lady Liberty and Times Square. ABC said the list also included the subway system and Plum Island, an isolated federal disease research lab off Long Island.
Siddiqui, a 36-year-old MIT graduate was arrested in Afghanistan last month for trying to shoot American agents and officers.
Siddiqui appeared in court on Tuesday in a wheelchair to face accusations that she tried to kill US soldiers and FBI personnel during an alleged struggle last month.
Her lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, said Siddiqui hadn't received appropriate medical attention since being shot on July 18, a charge denied by the government's lawyer.
A judge delayed her bail hearing so she could receive medical treatment for the gunshot wound she suffered in the alleged attack on the American personnel.
"She is a high security risk," Assistant US Attorney Christopher Lloyd LaVigne told the judge.
Some experts believe Siddiqui is much more than that.
Siddiqui was believed to be planning a possible suicide bombing when she was nabbed on July 17, according to reports. The criminal complaint against her says a search of her bag found "documents describing the creation of explosives, chemical weapons and other weapons involving biological material and radiological agents."
She also carried with her excerpts from bomb-making bible "The Anarchist Arsenal" and a one-gigabyte portable hard drive.
Investigators are testing Siddiqui's saliva, hair and nails to see if she has been exposed to any chemical, biological or radiological materials.
Siddiqui, a mother of three, was once married to a nephew of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who is being held at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
She has also been linked to Adnan el-Shukrijumah, a pilot and suspected al Qaeda member who once lived in Florida. (ANI)
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