NEW YORK: Osama Bin Laden’’s son-in-law on trial in a New York federal court on terrorism charges unexpectedly testified on Wednesday that Osama claimed responsibility for masterminding 9/11 and wanted his opinion on the future course of action.

Suleiman Abu Ghaith, who married Bin Laden’s daughter Fatima, recounted a dramatic meeting with the jubilant Al Qaeda chief in an Afghanistan cave complex on the night of Sept 11, 2001.

Bin Laden thought he was going to get away with it, testified Abu Ghaith. An NBC news report said that as the jurors listened raptly after the surprise announcement that he would testify, Abu Ghaith recounted how Bin Laden recruited him in June 2001 to speak to the men at his training camps. Three months later, on the night of 9/11, he was summoned to a cave to meet Bin Laden, who asked him: “Did you learn what happened? We are the ones who did it”.”I want to deliver a message to the world...I want you to deliver the message,” Bin Laden said, according to Abu Ghaith.

His decision to testify came as a surprise and followed a judge’s ruling that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept 11 attacks, would not take the stand. He apparently was ready to say that Abu Ghaith had no operational knowledge of Al Qaeda plans, the report said.

Abu Ghaith said he told Bin Laden that “America, if it was proven that you were the one who did this, will not settle until it accomplishes two things: to kill you and topple the state of Taliban.

”He said, ‘You are being too pessimistic.’” “I said, ‘You asked my opinion, and this is my opinion.’”

Abu Ghaith told the court he warned Bin Laden that he would feel the full force of America’s wrath following the attacks on New York and Washington.

Bin Laden replied simply by telling him: “You’re being too pessimistic.”

Within months, the US-led invasion had ousted the Taliban from power in Afghanistan, and Bin Laden was forced to run and hide.

Speaking through an interpreter, Abu Ghatih said Bin Laden had asked him to deliver a filmed propaganda speech about the attacks and, after some hesitation, he agreed.Abu Ghaith is most famous for appearing in a video with Bin Laden the day after the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

The US government said Abu Ghaith, in the video, warned the United States of a large army forming against it and that the attacks would be relentless.

This speech, Abu Ghaith testified, was based on “quotes and points” established by Bin Laden.

Abu Ghaith had had not been expected to testify during his trial where he is charged with conspiracy to kill Americans and conspiracy to support terrorists.

He faces life imprisonment if convicted by a jury at the trial, which is expected to conclude within days.

Abu Ghaith also denied trying to recruit people for Al Qaeda, as prosecutors have alleged.”There is no one recruiting, but Osama Bin Laden. My intention was not recruiting anyone,” he said.

And, asked by his lawyer if he ever wanted to kill Americans, he responded “No.” “My intention was to deliver a message I believed in,” he said, denouncing the oppression of Muslims.

Presenting himself as an imam, he said he went to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in June 2001 because he had a “serious desire to get to know the new Islamic government.” His other aim was “teaching and preaching”, he said, adding that was something he didn’t accomplish.

He said he learned of the plot after the fact, through media reports, while he was in Iran.Abu Ghaith is the highest-profile alleged Al Qaeda member to face trial in a US federal court rather than at Guantanamo Bay, which President Obama had promised to close.

US prosecutors say Abu Ghaith worked for Al Qaeda until 2002, when he fled Afghanistan for Iran. He was captured in 2013 and brought from Jordan to the United States.