A Bosnian immigrant who authorities said came within days of carrying out a plot to bomb New York City 's subway system was sentenced to life in prison on Friday . Adis Medunjanin , 34 , had been charged with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction and conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda . After authorities foiled the plot , he then attempted to crash his car and kill himself and others . Medunjanin chanted versus in Arabic from the Quran in front of Judge John Gleeson as a part of his statement to the court . He went on in English also criticized the U.S. for wars , hunger and torture . Medunjanin 's immediate family and extended wept as he spoke to the court . Medunjanin maintained his innocence and denied being involved in the any subway bombing plot . `` Adis Medunjanin was today held accountable for his role in one of the most serious terrorist plots against the homeland since 9/11 , '' said Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco . Inside the plot to devastate New York . During the trial , prosecutors said Medunjanin traveled to Pakistan 's tribal region with two high school friends , Pakistani-born Najibullah Zazi and Zarein Ahmedzay , an immigrant from Afghanistan . His friends pleaded guilty to planning the attack with Medunjanin and testified against him . Robert Gottleib , Medunjanin 's attorney , told reporters after the trial that they plan on appealing the verdict . Prosecutors said Medunjanin sought to join the Taliban , but ended up being recruited by al Qaeda to perform a suicide mission back in the United States . Upon their return , the three men hatched a plan to rig backpacks with explosives and blow them up .
Adis Medunjanin , 28 , was charged with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction . During the trial , prosecutors said Medunjanin traveled to Pakistan 's tribal region with two friends . His friends pleaded guilty to planning attack with Medunjanin ; testified against him .