1/6 News: War On Terrorism

USA: Grand Jury Indicts Underwear Bomber On Six Counts

A U.S. grand jury has indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on six counts in an alleged plot to bomb a passenger jet on Christmas Day. The charges against the 23-year-old Nigerian include attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison, attempted murder, and willful attempt to destroy or wreck an aircraft. Abdulmutallab allegedly attempted to detonate a bomb made from explosives PETN and TATP as Northwest Flight 253 was descending into Detroit Mich. en route from Amsterdam, Netherlands. There were 279 passengers and 11 crew on board. The flight landed safely after passengers and crew subdued him.

Capitol Hill Republicans quickly decried the Obama administration’s decision to prosecute Abdulmutallab in civilian court rather than turn him over to military custody and declare him an enemy combatant. Critics argue that by bringing Abdulmutallab before a judge and allowing him to face charges, the administration is missing an opportunity to interrogate him more thoroughly. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs has said that Abdulmutallab spent “a number of hours” with FBI investigators who gleaned “actionable intelligence.”

Nigeria Says U.S. Air Rule Threatens Bilateral Ties

Bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States could be at risk if the U.S. keeps its requirement for tighter security for Nigerian travellers, a federal minister said today. The procedures, which took effect from Monday, come in the wake of a botched Christmas Day bombing attempt on a U.S. airliner blamed on Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. "Nigeria expresses its disappointment and concern of the undeserved placement of Nigeria on the countries of interest list and views this action as having the potential of undermining longstanding and established U.S.-Nigeria bilateral ties," said Information Minister Dora Akunyili. She did not elaborate on what could be at risk.