NEW YORK, June 4: A Columbus, Ohio, man accused of joining Al Qaeda in the early 1990s for helping teach Muslim extremists how to bomb US and European targets pleaded guilty on Tuesday to planning terrorist attacks.

Christopher Paul pleaded guilty to a count that carries a maximum life prison sentence, but entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors that calls for a 20-year term, a Columbus, Ohio, newspaper said.

US District Court Judge Gregory Frost accepted the plea but said he would not give final approval to the deal until he saw the government’s pre-sentence report, which is not expected for several months.

No sentencing date was set.

Paul pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, specifically bombs, in terrorist attacks. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to provide support to terrorists.

Paul, a US citizen born and raised in Ohio, didn’t make a statement.

His attorneys left the court without commenting and did not immediately return messages.