Nigeria, January 08: Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab accused of trying to blow up an American airliner on Christmas day was Thursday indicted on six-counts, including attempted murder and trying to use a weapon-of-mass destruction to kill nearly 300 people.
Abdulmutallab, 23 was charged for trying to destroy a passenger plane in flight by trying to ignite explosives and chemicals. He is being held in a federal prison in Michigan.
“Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab faces upto life in prison if convicted of attempting to use a bomb on the plane,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement after filing the case in a Michigan court.
“The investigation is fast-paced, global and ongoing, and has already yielded valuable intelligence that we will follow wherever it leads,” Holder said.
“Anyone we find responsible for this alleged attack will be brought to justice using every tool – military or judicial – available to our government,” the attorney general said.
US Attorney for the Eastern district of Michigan said that the attempted murder of 289 innocent people merits the most serious charges available, and that’s what we have charged in this indictment.
According to the indictment, Abdulmutallab allegedly boarded Northwest Airlines flight 253, with 289 passengers and 11 crew members, at Amsterdam on 25th December carrying a concealed bomb.
The Nigerian will make his first appearance in federal court Friday to determine his custody. The bomb components included Pentaerythritol (also known as PETN, a high explosive), Triacetone Triperoxide (also known as TATP, a high explosive), and other ingredients.
The bomb was concealed in his clothing and designed to allow him to detonate it at a time of his choice, thereby causing an explosion on the plane, the indictment said.
US investigators have said that Abdul-Muttalab had told them he had received training and instructions from al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen. Since the botched attempt the US administration have boosted security at the US airports.
Abdulmutallab detonated the bomb, shortly prior to landing at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, causing fire in plane. According to an affidavit, filed in support of a criminal complaint, he was subdued and restrained by flight crew passengers after detonating the bomb.
The plane landed shortly thereafter, and he was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection officers.
Abdulmutallab was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Centre after the plane landed for medical treatment.
Count one of the indictment charges Abdulmutallab with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison. On the second count he has been charged with attempted murder within the aircraft jurisdiction of the US, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Third count charges him with attempt to destroy an aircraft within the jurisdiction of the US, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison as well.
—Agencies