Detroit trial: Underwear bomber pleads guilty

A Nigerian accused of trying to bomb a US-bound flight on Christmas Day 2009 has told his trial in Detroit that he is pleading guilty to all charges.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, told a judge he was admitting all eight counts against him, including terrorism and attempted murder, BBC reported. Abdulmutallab was badly burned when a bomb sewn into his underwear failed to detonate.

US Federal Judge Nancy Edmunds 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,” the defendant replied.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2011.