The feds have added a new international terrorism charge in a superseding indictment filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit against the Christmas Day “Underwear Bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Under the amended indictment, Abdulmutallab is now charged with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. That charge comes on top of previous ones including allegations that he used a weapon of mass destruction.
The new charge alleges that he conspired with others and he went to “Yemen for the purpose of becoming involved in violent “jihad” on behalf of al Qaeda.”
“In preparation for a suicide attack, defendant Abdulmutallab practiced detonating explosive devices similar to one which he later received for an attack on a U.S. airliner,” the indictment said.
Several weeks ago, he fired his court-appointed attorneys and told the judge he wanted to represent himself.
Law enforcement sources said it’s unlikely he’ll get any break in sentencing by pleading guilty considering that he was caught in the act as a number of witnesses looked on.
