The courthouse in Detroit, Michigan, where Nigerian suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab will be arraigned today
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab faces life imprisonment if convicted of trying to use a weapon of mass destruction
The Nigerian terror suspect accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day will make his first court appearance in Detroit Friday.
The arraignment comes a day after US president Barack Obama vowed sweeping and costly new measures to fix the intelligence flaws exposed by the Al-Qaeda attack.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury on six counts arising from the botched plot to blow up an airliner packed with 290 passengers and crew flying from Amsterdam to Detroit.
The charges included attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction aboard a US plane.
Obama blamed US spy agencies for failing to properly connect and analyze signs that an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen was planning the attack.
Abdulmutallab was badly burned when the explosive he hid in his underwear caught fire but failed to blow up as Northwest Airlines Flight 253 began its descent into Detroit.
Fellow passengers subdued him and the crew was able to put the fire out before much damage had been done.
He spent several days in hospital before being transferred to a federal detention facility in Milan, Michigan.
Abdulmutallab is set to be arraigned at 2:00 pm (1900 GMT) at a federal courthouse in downtown Detroit.
A group of Muslim faith leaders is planning to rally outside the courthouse with signs declaring "not in our name."
"The collective goal of all of us, as our president has spoken about, is to defeat the extremists and Al-Qaeda," said organizer Victor Ghalib Begg, chair of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.
"Their actions really harm all of us," Begg told AFP, referring to Islamic extremists.
"It gives a bad name to Muslims and it's important for religious leaders to speak out. The things these people do -- that's a ticket to hell, not to paradise."
Michigan district court documents accused Abdulmutallab of "carrying a concealed bomb" of high explosives inside his clothing onto Flight 253.
If convicted of trying to use a weapon of mass destruction, he faces life imprisonment, the Department of Justice said. Attempted murder charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years, while two charges of possession and use of a firearm or destructive device carry a mandatory 30 years prison term.
-----------
-----------
RELATED POSTS:-
- Afghan anger after scores die in Nato air strike - ISAF air strike hit fuel truck hijacked by insurgents
- NATO airstrike in Afghanistan kills up to 90
- Megrahi moved to emergency ward: Libyan official
- British PM repulsed by the Hero welcome of Lockiber Convict at Libya.
- Lockerbie minister facing critics
- 'Clueless' CIA were conned by suicide bomber's.Lies to enter miliatary base to detone bom.
- Obama to issue declassified report Thursday on Christmas attack-Obama presses security overhaul, Nigerian indicted
- Top general blasts US Afghan intelligence gathering- 7 CIA killed by suicide bomber.-US spy work in Afghanistan rapped
- Danish Cartoonist who tarnish Islam attacked by axe wiedling man with link to Al Qaeda,hide in panic room in house.Shot by police.
- CIA acknowledges deaths in Khost
- Nigerian Charged in Northwest Bomb Attempt
- Scotland Yard raids London addresses after Al Qaeda suspect tries to blow up U.S. passenger jet
- Five America arrested in Pakistan for connection to Al-Qeada and looking for war.-Trying to meet terrorists
- Al qeada suicida bom kill 127 in Baghdad.Trio of boms
- Gordon brown faces critism of lying about withdrawal from Irag to British , as Obama send 30 000 troops more to Afganisthan
- Australia foils terrorist plot to attack army base
- Officials: Suspected US drones kill 13
- American intelligence chief brands U.S. spy efforts in Afghanistan 'ignorant' and 'disengaged'
- Mississippi River town welcomes The White House decision to move up to 100 Guantanamo Bay detainees to this town.Economic Boost.
- Lethal injection for death row inmate may chance for less injection but slower death.
0 comments:
Post a Comment