An al-Qaeda linked Nigerian youth accused of trying to blow up a US airliner on Christmas Day has pleaded not guilty as he was arraigned before a Michigan court on six counts carrying penalties ranging from a maximum of 30 years in prison to life term.
23-year old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was indicted in a Michigan court on six counts, including for attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and wilful attempt to destroy or wreck an aircraft.
Abdulmutallab, who had sustained burn injuries in his unsuccessful bid to bomb the North West Airlines plane carrying 300 people on December 25, stood mute to the charges during a three-minute arraignment in the US District Court in Detroit last night.
The Nigerian, a former student of University College London, looked physically fit in his brief court appearances, though he walked with a slight limp, media reports said.
Wearing a white T-shirt, pants and tennis shoes, he said “yes” in English when asked if he understood the charges against him.
After that federal defender Miriam Siefer asked Magistrate Mark Randon to enter “not guilty pleas” to all the six counts.
According to the indictment filed early this week, Abdulmutallab has been charged in a six-count indictment for trying to blow up a plane mid-air.
According to the indictment, Abdulmutallab boarded the plane in Amsterdam on December 25 carrying a concealed bomb.
The bomb components included Pentaerythritol (also known as PETN, a high explosive), as well as Triacetone Triperoxide (also known as TATP, a high explosive), and other ingredients.
The bomb was concealed in the defendant’s clothing and was designed to allow him to detonate it at a time of his choosing, thereby causing an explosion aboard flight 253, according to the indictment.
Shortly prior to landing at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab detonated the bomb, causing a fire. He was subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew.
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, while the count two charges him with attempted murder within special aircraft jurisdiction of the US, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years.
Count three charges him with wilful attempt to destroy or wreck an aircraft and count four charges him with wilfully placing a destructive device on an aircraft.
Meanwhile, count five of the indictment charges him with use of a firearm/destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a consecutive mandatory 30 years in prison and count six charges the defendant with possession of a firearm/destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, which also carries a 30 year term.
