Prosecutors Want Witnesses Protected in Boise Terrorism Case

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Prosecutors are asking a federal judge in Idaho to shield the identities of two witnesses in the trial of an Uzbek man charged with helping a terrorist organization.

The Idaho Statesman reports that prosecutors argue the measure is needed because the witnesses are informants in ongoing cases. If their request is denied, prosecutors want the courtroom to be closed to the public during the witnesses' testimony. Fazliddin Kurbanov, an Uzbek refugee who lives in Boise, is accused of helping teach people to build bombs to target public transportation.

The 32-year-old Kurbanov is scheduled to go to trial July 13. According to court documents, officials are also asking permission to allow four FBI linguists to testify under pseudonyms because of fears over reprisal against family members living in other countries.