2 Pakistani-Americans charged with attempt to murder US Marshals

WASHINGTON: Two Pakistani-American brothers, locked up since 2012 on terror charges, have been accused of attempting to kill two US Marshals while they escorted them within the courthouse complex in Miami, prosecutors said.

Raees Alam Qazi, 22, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 32, were previously charged in November 2012 with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives).

According to an indictment, the Qazi brothers, naturalised US citizens originally from Pakistan, conspired to provide material support and resources - including property, service, lodging, communications equipment, and personnel - knowing and intending that this would be used in preparation for and in carrying out a conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.

It alleges that during this period the Florida-based brothers conspired to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives) against persons and property within the US.

During the same time frame, the indictment alleges that the Qazi brothers conspired and attempted to provide material support to al-Qaeda and it's Yemeni branch Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Federal prosecutors said that on April 8, 2014, while being moved within the US Courthouse complex, they simultaneously motioned with their heads to cause the Deputy Marshals to look at the ceiling, the duo then simultaneously punched the Deputies in the face and struggled with them.

Further, while struggling with the Deputy US Marshals, they attempted to use potentially lethal force on them while exclaiming 'Allahu Akbar', an Arabic exhortation meaning 'God is Great'.