Slain American's wife hopes Headley will aid 26/11 probe

Yoshita Singh

Chicago, Dec 9 (PTI) The widow of an American killed in
the Mumbai terror strikes Wednesday said she hopes that
Pakistani-origin LeT operative David Coleman Headley, charged
in a court here with conspiracy in the attacks, will cooperate
with authorities during the probe and disclose all
information.
"My loss still causes me much grief. My hope is that
Headley cooperates fully and discloses all information to aid
in the investigation of 26/11," Kia Scherr, widow of Virginia
resident Alan Scherr, told PTI in an e-mail statement.
Alan, who was killed along with his 13-year-old daughter
Naomi, was in India's commercial hub of Mumbai to scout
locations for a meditation centre. Kia was in Florida with her
parents for the Thanksgiving weekend when she first heard the
news of the siege -- and then the killings in Mumbai on
November 26 last year.
Kia said she was "grateful for the support of the
FBI", which had called her and informed her that charges had
been filed against Headley, who is scheduled to appear in a
court Thursday for his arraignment.
"While this news brings up many emotions, it also
inspires me to create the conversation that is so badly needed
in this world," she said.
Kia has co-founded 'One Life Alliance', an organisation
that helps "continue the conversation about how life is
sacred", a message that, she said, has emerged as a response
to the terror attacks.

According to charges filed by FBI in a court here,
Headley travelled to Mumbai to identify targets for the
attack.
"Ironically, during this time (Mumbai attacks), my
husband also went to Mumbai to scout locations for a modern
meditation retreat. Had the terrorists, and Headley, been
taught the sacredness and oneness of all life, perhaps we
would not be in this position today," Kia said.
She said she believes anger, judgement and revenge would
not serve the greater good.
"I will continue to honour the sacredness and oneness of
all life and share this experience with others," Kia said.
49-year-old Headley, arrested by FBI in October, was
charged on Monday in a 12-count criminal information
with six counts of conspiracy to bomb public places in India,
murder and maim persons in India and Denmark, provide material
support to foreign terrorist plots, provide material support
to terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba, and six counts of aiding and
abetting the murder of US citizens in India. PTI YAS