Briefs

Sandy Hook massacre investigation released

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Police in Connecticut released thousands of pages yesterday from the investigation into the Newtown school massacre, providing the most detailed and disturbing picture yet of the rampage, Adam Lanza's chilling fascination with murder, and school employees' brave and clearheaded attempts to protect the children.

Included in the file were photographs of the home Lanza shared with his mother. They show numerous rounds of ammunition, gun magazines, paper targets and a gun safe with a rifle in it.

A former teacher of Lanza's was quoted as telling investigators that Lanza exhibited antisocial behavior, rarely interacted with other students and obsessed in writings "about battles, destruction and war." The teacher added: "Adam's creative writing was so graphic that it could not be shared."

The documents' release marks the end of the investigation into the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead.

Al Qaeda supporter pleads guilty to federal charge

LOS ANGELES - A California man who used the Internet and Facebook to connect with al Qaeda pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal terrorism charge after admitting he attempted to assist al Qaeda by providing weapons training, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Sinh Vinh Ngo Nguyen, 24, of Garden Grove unexpectedly entered the plea before U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter, who scheduled sentencing for March 21, prosecutors said in a statement.

Nguyen faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. His lawyer, Yasmin Cader, refused to comment on his decision, quickly hanging up the phone on a reporter, and U.S. Attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek said prosecutors also would have no comment.

The judge who accepted the plea previously had expressed skepticism about whether Nguyen had any special skills to offer al Qaeda. Nguyen had confessed to federal agents after he was unmasked by an undercover FBI agent posing as a recruiter for the terrorist group.

He said that he planned to offer himself as a trainer of some 30 al Qaeda forces to ambush troops in Syria, where he had already spent five months fighting with rebels, Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Heinz said after his arrest in October. She said he underwent 50 hours of interrogation, during which he confessed to his plan.

A&E back-paddles, Robertson rejoins 'Dynasty'

LOS ANGELES - The A&E channel said it's reversing its decision to drop "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson from the show for his remarks about gays.

In a statement yesterday, A&E said it decided to bring Robertson back after discussions with the Robertson family and "numerous advocacy groups."

The channel had put Robertson on what it called "hiatus" following his comments in a magazine article about how the Bible informs his view of gays.

His comments were slammed by groups including GLAAD, the gay media watch organization. But A&E's decision drew a backlash from those who said they supported Robertson's comments and others who defended him on the basis of freedom of speech.

- Daily News wire services