US plane attack: Nigerian national indicted

Washington, Jan 7: US jury indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian national arrested for the foiled US plane attack on Christmas eve, on Wednesday, Jan 6.

Abdulmutallab was booked in six-counts of criminal charges for trying to blow up a Detroit-bound North West Airlines from Amsterdam.

After filing the case in Michigan court Attorney General Eric Holder said that the charges leveled against the accused could land him in prison for life, adding that the most serious one was the charge of attempted murder of 289 innocent people on board.

"This investigation is fast-paced, global and ongoing, and has already yielded valuable intelligence that we will follow wherever it leads. Anyone we find responsible for this alleged attack will be brought to justice using every tool - military or judicial - available to our government," he said.

Indictment said that Abdulmutallab boarded the Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam, carrying 289 passengers along with 11 crew members, with explosive devices hidden in his clothing on Christmas eve.

An affidavit filed in support of the criminal complain said that prior to the landing the accused tried to detonate the bomb, which caused fire in the plane, but he was restrained by passenger and flight crew passengers.

Abdulmutallab was later taken to the Michigan Medical Centre to get treatment for burns.

The accused has been charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction on Count 1 of indictment, for which he could be sentenced to life.

On count 2, which is attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, will earn him a penalty of 20 years in prison.

On count 3, he is charged within the US jurisdiction for wilful attempt to destroy or wreck an aircraft, which carries a sentencing of 20 years.

Count 4, charges him with wilfully placing a destructive device on a plane within the US special aircraft jurisdiction, carrying a penalty of 20 years, on the grounds that the safety of the aircraft could be endangered.

Count 5 and Count 6, which carries a penalty of 30 years imprisonment, charges with use of a firearm/destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm/destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, respectively, .

OneIndia News