Somber Christmas terror suspect pleads not guilty

DETROIT – Wearing a T-shirt, khaki-style pants and a chain at his ankles, a somber-looking Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas said he understood the charges against him, triggering the defense of a criminal case that could lead to life in prison.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's arraignment in federal court Friday took fewer than five minutes and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. The 23-year-old said little, telling the judge simply that he understood the six-count indictment he faces and the maximum penalty.

Abdulmutallab's first court appearance came exactly two weeks after an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight in which passengers rushed to his seat and put out flames that could have caused a disaster. The FBI says Abdulmutallab tried to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253, which was carrying nearly 300 people, by injecting chemicals into a package of explosives concealed in his underwear.

The alleged attack has shaken up airport security worldwide. President Barack Obama considers it an attempted strike against the United States by an al-Qaida affiliate and faults his administration for not preventing it despite intelligence reports.

A grand jury this week indicted Abdulmutallab on six charges. The most serious — attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction — could land him in prison for life if convicted.

He replied "yes" when asked Friday if he understood the charges and said he had taken "some pain pills" after the judge inquired whether he had used any drugs or alcohol in the past 24 hours. He is being held at a federal prison in Milan, Mich., and had been treated at a hospital for burns.

http://news.yahoo.com

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