The Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty Wednesday to trying to blow up an international flight for al-Qaida with a bomb in his underwear, taking a U.S. federal court by surprise on the second day of his trial.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab answered questions from U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds before pleading guilty to all eight charges he faced, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted murder.
"Are you therefore pleading guilty freely and voluntarily?" Edmunds asked.
"That's right, yes," Abdulmutallab replied.
Edmunds reviewed the charges and possible penalties with Abdulmutallab before he entered his pleas, including that he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
He's accused of trying to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 with a bomb in his underwear on Christmas 2009. The bomb didn't work, and passengers jumped on Abdulmutallab when they saw smoke and fire.
Prosecutors' evidence was stacked high. Abdulmutallab was badly burned in a plane full of witnesses. The government said he told FBI agents he was working for al-Qaida and directed by Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical, American-born Muslim cleric recently killed by the U.S. in Yemen.
The government alleges Abdulmutallab says he wanted to become a martyr when he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 in Amsterdam on Christmas 2009.
There are also photos of his scorched shorts as well as video of Abdulmutallab explaining his suicide mission before departing for the U.S. from Amsterdam which was used as an evidence against him before the law court.
Abdulmutallab accepts all the counts and charges against him and pleads guilty.
Posted: at 12-10-2011 05:14 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
youngchopper at 12-10-2011 11:51 PM (12 years ago) (m)
i dont blame d coward. I only blame d stupid hausa blood in him stupid son of a failed politician beta die ugly fag. Make dem kill am quick joh by electric chair.
Posted: at 12-10-2011 11:51 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie