David Headley isn't in Chicago jail or hospital: lawyer

Pakistani-American David Headley is neither in a Chicago jail nor in hospital, his lawyer said today, dismissing reports that the LeT terrorist, convicted to 35 years in prison in the 2008 Mumbai attack case, was battling for life after being beaten by fellow inmates.

"Although I cannot disclose his location, he is neither in Chicago nor in a hospital," John Theis, Headley's lawyer, told PTI.

Media reports had said that Headley, 58, was attacked by two inmates at a Chicago prison on July 8 and that he was admitted to an intensive care unit of a hospital in the city since then.

"I am in regular communication with Mr. Headley. There is no basis for the report in the Indian press," Theis said.

The reports had said Headley suffered serious injuries and was rushed to North Evanston hospital, where he was admitted to the critical care unit.

He has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by a US court for the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai that killed more than 160 people, including six Americans.

Headley — who recced various Indian cities including Mumbai before the 26/11 attacks — was arrested in 2009.

The US Justice Department also accused him of attending terrorism training camps in Pakistan in 2002 and 2003, and working with the group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to carry out terror attacks.

On Monday, US authorities refused to comment on the media reports.

"We are not able to locate information about this individual," the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago said in a brief email response to PTI when asked about the reported prison incident.