Accused Christmas Day Bomber To Appear In Federal Court Friday

(RTTNews) - The Nigerian man accused of attempting to set off an explosive device on an airplane bound for Detroit will make his first appearance in federal court Friday.

The Justice Department has charged Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, attempted murder on an aircraft, possession and use of a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence and several other serious charges related to the attempted Christmas day bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

The charges, several of which carry minimum 30-year sentences and one that could send Abdulmutallab to jail for life, were handed down in a grand jury indictment Wednesday.

"The charges that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab faces could imprison him for life," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "This investigation is fast-paced, global and ongoing, and it has already yielded valuable intelligence that we will follow wherever it leads."

He added, "Anyone we find responsible for this alleged attack will be brought to justice using every tool -- military or judicial -- available to our government."

Barbara L. McQuade, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, is will be leading the prosecution. She emphasized the serious nature of the charges.

"The attempted murder of 289 innocent people merits the most serious charges available, and that's what we have charged in this indictment," she said.

According to the indictment, Abdulmutallab smuggled an explosive device made from Pentaerythritol, also known as PETN a high explosive, as well as Triacetone Triperoxide, also known as TATP another high explosive, onto the flight concealed in his underwear.

Shortly before landing, Abdulmutallab set off the bomb causing a fire onboard the plane, but other passengers and flight crew were able to subdue him and restrain him until he could be taken into custody by customs and border patrol officers.

That Abdulmutallab, who was known to have had contact with an al Qaeda affiliate group in Yemen that U.S. intelligence knew had designs to strike at targets inside the U.S., was able to board the flight has touched off a review of security procedures throughout the government.

Results of that review, focusing on efforts to keep terrorism watch lists and no fly lists updated, are scheduled to be released Thursday

It has also prompted tighter screening of passengers boarding U.S.-bound flights with those from 14 countries receiving mandatory pat-downs and other increased security measures at airports.

The decision to have Abdulmutallab face trial in federal court drew criticism from Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

 1   2   Next Page