Umar FaroukAbdulmutallabaccused of attempting to bomb a Detroit-bound aircraft belonging to a United States airline on the Christmas Day of 2009 has pleaded guilty to all the charges brought against him.His final sentence has been fixed for January 12, 2012.But by implication, according the US law on terrorism, Abdulmutallab's offence is punishable by life imprisonment, especially now that he had pleaded guilty, the postponed sentencing may be a mere formality as he may spend the rest of his life in prison.While appearing in a Detroit court in the United States on Wednesday, the 24-year-old Abdulmutallab did not raise objection to any of the eight count charges against him, including terrorism and attempted murder.He admitted to trying to kill almost all the 300 passengers on board the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit in the United States.In 2009 before he was arrested while trying to detonate the bomb, Abdulmutallab was reported to be 'badly burned' when a bomb sewn into his underwear failed to detonate fully, prosecutors said.US Federal Judge, Nancy Edmunds had earlier in the court verified that Abdulmutallab understood his right to silence before asking him if he wished to make a plea.'Do I understand correctly that you wish to waive that right (in order) to plead guilty to all the charges in the indictment'' she asked.'Yes,' Abdulmutallab replied, as he told the court the bomb was a 'blessed weapon to save the lives of innocent Muslims.''The US should be warned that if they continue to kill and support those who kill innocent Muslims, then the US should await a great calamity or God will strike them directly,' Abdulmutallab said.Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is based in Yemen, said it was behind the attack on 25 December 2009.US investigators have said Abdulmutallab told them he was working for AQAP and had received the bomb from them, as well as training, BBC reported.US and Yemeni officials have linked Abdulmutallab to radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, whom he is said to have met while in Yemen before the attack.Awlaki was killed last month by a US drone strike in Yemen.Abdulmutallab flew from Nigeria to Amsterdam, where he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit, which was carrying 279 passengers and 11 crew.He was already on a US watch list, but not a no-fly list.Passengers had to put out the fire after the bomb failed to detonate fully, the court heard on Monday.Abdulmutallab's father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, an influential banker who is well connected in Nigerian politics, said he had approached the US embassy officials and Nigerian authorities in 2009 to warn them about his son.Abdulmutallab was denied a request to ban statements he made while being treated for burns at a hospital, as well as other material, from appearing at trial.During the first day of his trial, on Monday, prosecutor Jonathan Tukel showed the court a picture of the remains of the burnt underwear which contained the explosive device.Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analysts found the high explosive pentaerythritol (PETN) inside the device.Officials said he planned to detonate it using a syringe filled with chemicals.The bomb was not detected when Abdulmutallab passed through airport security in Lagos and Amsterdam.The court was also shown a video of Abdulmutallab explaining his suicide mission.
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