NEW YORK (CNN) -- The arrest of a local imam for allegedly lying to the FBI about tipping off a suspected terrorist sent shock waves through the Afghan community in New York. Ahmad Wais Afzali, a prominent imam in Queens who runs an Islamic burial service for the Muslim community, has maintained his innocence in the case. He's charged in connection with a terror probe that revolves around 24-year-old Najibullah Zazi. Prosecutors said Zazi received explosives training with the intent to bomb a high density target in the United States, and that Afzali jeopardized their investigation by telling Zazi that federal investigators were on to him.
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Prominent imam Ahmad Wais Afzali accused of lying to FBI in terror probe
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Afzali, who runs an Islamic burial service in Queens, maintains innocence in case
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Friends, neighbors say members of community looked up to Afzali
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Friend says case may negatively affect community's relationship with authorities
Hours later, he told reporters surrounding him and his wife outside their home in @placeholder that he'd received many messages of support.