CHICAGO – A 29-year-old Chicago man accused of plotting a suicide bombing overseas and claiming he was inspired by a radical Muslim cleric has agreed to change his plea to guilty, bringing to an end one of the last terrorism trials pending in the city's federal court.

A lawyer for Shaker Masri – whose plea deal was announced Thursday at a status hearing – told reporters that the agreement hammered out with the U.S. Attorney's Office was favorable to his client, though he declined to elaborate.

"Suffice to say, there comes a time when the government makes offers that are difficult to refuse in the light of the potential consequences," Thomas A. Durkin said.